"If I saw you as Li Wan, I wouldn't treat you this way." Xiao Ji gazed into the distance, his voice carrying a touch of wistfulness.
"Of course, it's because I can suppress your illness that you're treating me so well, right?" I exclaimed, suddenly understanding. Xiao Ji cast me a sidelong glance and unexpectedly took my hand.
"What are you doing? Men and women shouldn't touch!" I tried to pull my hand away, but Xiao Ji, acting like a spoiled child, refused to let go. Just then, Yan Jing appeared at the corner. An overwhelming feeling of guilt washed over me—like being caught red-handed.
Although Xiao Yi had said Xiao Ji regarded Yan Jing as a sister, it seemed Yan Jing had feelings for him. But why had she told Xiao Ji she stayed by his side only for wealth and status?
Yan Jing glanced at our clasped hands, her face draining of color. Feeling uneasy, I urged Xiao Ji to explain. Xiao Ji frowned and said nothing, while Yan Jing gave a small curtsy, her head bowed, and walked away, heartbroken.
Her desolate look made me feel equally terrible. As she passed us, I shoved Xiao Ji toward her. Xiao Ji glared at me in annoyance but softened upon seeing Yan Jing's grief-stricken face. His cold demeanor melted somewhat as he silently offered her a handkerchief.
Yan Jing accepted it, quietly sobbing as she ran off.
"Don't just stand there—go after her!" I pushed Xiao Ji, who remained rooted to the spot.
"If it were you, I'd chase after you," Xiao Ji said, his sullen expression fading into a teasing smirk.
"You're so glib." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Stop fooling around; let's go see my father," Xiao Ji said, grabbing my hand again.
"Hey, what's with you today? Didn't you say men and women shouldn't touch?" I angrily tried to withdraw my hand, but Xiao Ji shamelessly replied, "I'm not feeling well. Holding your hand channels my monthly cultivation of righteous energy to suppress my malevolence."
"Nonsense. I don't feel any malevolence." I shot him a skeptical look.
"The malevolence is within me. How would you sense it?" Xiao Ji chuckled.
"Of course I know—" I almost blurted out the secret of our linked fates but caught myself. Seeing the curiosity in Xiao Ji's eyes, I quickly changed the subject. "Xiao Ji, I'm saying this for your own good. If you keep holding my hand in public, won't the person you like misunderstand?"
Xiao Ji burst out laughing. "That person is as dumb as a pig. She wouldn't misunderstand."
I hadn't expected him to describe the person he liked as a pig. I laughed uncontrollably. "You like pig-like girls? Then you're a pig too! Hahaha."
"Stop talking nonsense." Xiao Ji, his face turning red, cleared his throat and dragged me away.
The emperor summoned us to the imperial garden. When we arrived, he was playing chess with Xiao Yi. Seeing Xiao Ji, he set the chess pieces aside and engaged him in warm conversation. Before long, Yan Jing arrived, her tears wiped away but her sorrow still apparent.
I sat quietly, listening to their chatter, until the emperor suddenly turned to me with a meaningful look. "I've heard that Miss Wuxie resembles Li Wan greatly. Seeing you today, it's indeed true."
Caught off guard, I awkwardly smiled, unsure how to respond. At the mention of Li Wan, I instinctively glanced at Xiao Yi. He sipped his tea in silence, but his melancholy was unmistakable. My heart ached inexplicably.
"There's no need to be reserved, Miss Wuxie. What do you think of our Ji'er?" The emperor's sudden question startled me. After some thought, I gave a noncommittal answer, "I think the Third Prince looks very much like Your Majesty."
The emperor raised an eyebrow and laughed heartily. Xiao Yi also chuckled softly, but his smile seemed tinged with unease.
Something is brewing, I thought nervously. My fears were confirmed when the emperor, still smiling, asked warmly, "Miss Wuxie, would you be willing to marry Ji'er and stay by his side?"
"Father?!" Xiao Ji looked up in shock. Yan Jing turned away, her tears threatening to spill again. Quickly, I stood and bowed. "Your Majesty, please reconsider. Wuxie is unworthy of the Third Prince."
"Oh? Setting aside matters of rank, would you be willing to stay with Ji'er?" The emperor, clearly aware I was declining, pressed on gently.
What is he playing at? I was at a loss for words. Sensing my discomfort, Xiao Ji intervened. "Father, how can a young lady possibly answer such a question?"
The emperor stroked his beard, laughing. "True, it seems I've been thoughtless. Don't mind me, Miss Wuxie."
"Not at all, Your Majesty." I exhaled in relief. The emperor nodded and turned to Yan Jing, who had been silent. "Jing'er, why so quiet? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Jing'er is fine," Yan Jing replied with a strained smile.
"Why so formal? We're practically family," the emperor said, taking her hand. "If Yi'er ever mistreats you, come to me. I'll ensure justice."
Stunned, I looked up. Xiao Yi smiled politely. "Father, you spoil Jing'er even before she's wed. What am I to do?"
"Then marry her soon and give me a fat grandson, and I'll let you off," the emperor said with a hearty laugh. Yan Jing blushed faintly, though her joy seemed forced. Xiao Yi maintained his gentle smile, but his eyes betrayed a hint of sorrow and hesitation.
What's going on? Didn't Xiao Yi say he didn't love Yan Jing? Why is he suddenly marrying her? And he loves Li Wan—how could he marry Yan Jing?
No, even if Li Wan were still alive, Xiao Yi would still marry others. He is destined to be the emperor, bound to have a harem.
The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. My mind went blank, and my heart ached unbearably.
"You like my brother?" Xiao Ji suddenly asked as we walked back.
"No, of course not," I replied, startled.
"Then why were you so downcast when you heard he's marrying Jing'er?" Xiao Ji stared at me, his voice laced with bitterness.
"I wasn't... I was just sad for Li Wan," I sighed. "Every time I think of her having to share the person she loves with many women, I feel miserable."
Xiao Ji froze. I took a deep breath and continued, "My master always said, 'To pursue the path of immortality, one must first understand humanity. Without humanity, immortality is but a delusion.' Cultivation doesn't mean abandoning emotions but understanding them—embracing the truths of the world and acting with compassion. But perhaps I'll never understand. I simply want to spend my life with the one I love, a 'one life, one pair' relationship. That's so different from your ideals, where polygamy is the norm."
"One life, one pair..." Xiao Ji murmured, then looked at me with determination. "As long as you're not Li Wan, I promise your wish will come true."
"What does this have to do with Li Wan?" I asked, puzzled.
"Guess," Xiao Ji teased with a raised eyebrow.
"I won't. Anyway, it doesn't matter to me. Why brood when I can buy candied hawthorn? Oh, you still owe me one!" I exclaimed.
Perhaps because I could open the inner hall's door, Li Jun allowed me to access its archives. The temple's vast library might hold clues to breaking the formation, so I frequented the area, becoming acquainted with Li Yan and Li Jun.
Xiao Yi, perhaps consumed by thoughts of Li Wan, moved into the temple after the seal on the inner hall proved I wasn't her. Even his official duties were conducted there.
I avoided him deliberately, never crossing paths despite my frequent visits. I couldn't explain why, but the thought of his future harem left me inexplicably bitter.
Xiao Yi's four maids—Mo Mei, Mo Lan, Mo Zhu, and Mo Ju—seemed to adore Li Wan. Even though I only resembled her, they often sent me delicious treats through Li Jun. In return, I bought them candied hawthorn, and we became fast friends.
Unbeknownst to me, many of those treats were made by Xiao Yi himself. He had pampered Li Wan since childhood, learning to make her favorite snacks.