Si Zi was very busy. Not only did she have to hold the black-clothed woman’s head and gently pat her back, but she also had to tend to the miniature bridge and stream toy that Yun Ye had given her, ensuring the gurgling sound of flowing water continued without interruption…

This was quite a challenging task for her. Her pale face became slightly flushed from excessive excitement as the black-clothed woman drank milk through the soft wooden bottle, gulping it down rhythmically.

Empress Zhangsun only cared for the Emperor and her own young children, and would not look after anyone else. After hearing Sun Simiao’s prescription, she simply gave Duan Hong some instructions before going off to attend to her own affairs. She was an extremely rational woman who never engaged in futile efforts. No matter how urgent Si Zi’s condition was, they still needed to wait for this woman to regain consciousness before proceeding with the next step. Therefore, at this moment, she believed that assessing the influence of Yushan Academy was more important than helplessly waiting for the black-clothed woman to wake up.

Si Zi had sent Duan Hong away, insisting on staying with her wet nurse to care for the black-clothed woman. She not only bathed her but also specially styled her hair into a beautiful arrangement.

Once stripped of her black clothing, the woman became even more beautiful. Wearing the lovely garments Si Zi had retrieved from her trunk, she appeared sweet, noble, and elegant. These garments were all prepared by the Empress for Si Zi, hoping she could wear these beautiful clothes when she grew older.

“The dark sky hangs low, the bright stars follow…”

Si Zi’s singing voice echoed through the spacious room. This song was taught to her by Yun Shou, whose father used to sing it often to lull him to sleep when he was little. It was the most beautiful song, and Si Zi loved it dearly.

Time flew by quickly. Before she knew it, the moon had moved overhead. The wet nurse leaned against the bed post, her head nodding drowsily as she dozed off. Si Zi had long since fallen asleep sprawled across the black-clothed woman. It was just past the hour of midnight.

The black-clothed woman, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly trembled all over and opened her eyes. Her body remained still, only her gaze moving slowly—an unfamiliar room, unfamiliar furnishings, an unfamiliar woman. When her eyes fell upon Si Zi’s small face, she let out a long breath. It appeared this little girl had saved her.

Fortunately, her consciousness was intact and her memories remained. She could even recall minor incidents she had previously forgotten. A trace of a smile surfaced on her cheeks—the venomous insect’s power had not yet been able to wear down her resolve.

Thinking of Fox Charmer, her teeth ground together audibly. Three strikes was the rule—no matter what tremendous loss she had suffered, she could no longer seek revenge against Fox Charmer and Bin Meiren. The thought filled her with incomparable frustration.

“You’re awake?” Si Zi’s large eyes appeared before the black-clothed woman’s face.

“Keep your voice down.” The black-clothed woman spoke in a low voice, pointing with her finger at the wet nurse who was still dozing.

Si Zi sent the wet nurse away and jumped back onto the bed, asking the black-clothed woman hopefully, “Can I truly still be saved? Grandpa Sun Simiao said I have a congenital disease. Marquis Yun also said there’s a problem with my heart, that my heart isn’t sufficient to support my gradually growing body, and when I truly become a grown maiden, I will die.”

“I believe what they say because they never lie. I don’t believe the nonsense of those charlatans—there’s no such thing as immortality in this world.”

“How did you seize me from Fox Charmer’s hands? Did she play any tricks?”

“Fox Charmer? Oh, you mean Sister Xiao Wu. When I went to find you, you had already been captured by Sister Xiao Wu. At that time you had become very strange, like an infant. If I had asked Sister Xiao Wu directly, she wouldn’t have given you to me. She’s always been extremely domineering. However, I asked Mother Empress to help me request you, so she didn’t dare refuse.”

“Your mother empress? You’re a princess of the Li Tang?”

Si Zi said happily, “Yes! Elder sister, my name is Si Zi. What’s your name, elder sister?”

The black-clothed woman reached out and touched Si Zi’s small face, smiling as she said, “I’m called Yinniang!”

Yinniang’s smile left Si Zi somewhat dazed—it was truly too beautiful, just like a celestial fairy. Si Zi couldn’t find an appropriate word to describe Yinniang’s smile.

“That scorpion’s toxicity was very strong. How did you help me detoxify it?” Yinniang was very curious. Such an ancient and rare species must contain extremely terrifying venom, especially since it was a specially cultivated venomous seed whose toxicity would surely be even more peculiar.

“Haha, Little Red has no poison! Elder sister, you were deceived!” Si Zi lifted a jade box by the bedside and dangled the scorpion before Yinniang’s eyes.

Yinniang started in alarm. Her body slipped off the large bed like a fish gliding through water. Standing barefoot on the ground, she watched the scorpion king in Si Zi’s hand warily. Though Si Zi held the scorpion’s tail hook, its two large pincers at the front continued opening and closing ceaselessly.

“Non-toxic?” Yinniang couldn’t help but ask again.

“It has no poison. I heard this scorpion king was a venomous insect raised by Master Huozhu. The entire scorpion became very powerful and was on the verge of success, but who knew this scorpion would completely lose its toxicity. So although it looks strange, it’s actually just very fun to play with.”

After hearing Si Zi’s words, Yinniang snatched the scorpion from Si Zi’s hand and examined it carefully for quite a while before smiling bitterly and returning the scorpion to Si Zi. At this moment, Yinniang had an urge to kill Xiao Wu and then commit suicide herself. How humiliating! She had clearly already secured victory, yet had been completely intimidated by the other’s words. A non-toxic scorpion had caused her to completely abandon all thought of resistance.

She couldn’t blame anyone for her failure. Bai Yujing’s heart-attacking techniques—this was their specialty. Not a single word from that group could be trusted, whether from Bin Meiren or Fox Charmer. Their words could not be believed!

Yinniang closed her eyes. Her towering chest rose and fell irregularly. After pondering for a long while, she said to Si Zi, “Come back to the mountains with me. Your illness cannot be delayed. You must learn the internal breathing method in the shortest possible time. Only by learning the internal breathing method can you borrow the power of heaven and earth to help circulate the blood throughout your body, rather than relying purely on your heart.”

“Bin Meiren wasn’t wrong. Your heart is insufficient to supply your body with adequate blood. Although Bai Yujing has the ability to seize blood to extend life, it cannot eliminate the root of your ailment. Your problem isn’t too little blood, but rather too weak a heart. Only a strong heart can continuously transport blood throughout your body to the extremities of your limbs. The corners of your eyes are purple, your fingertips are purple, your toenails surely don’t grow well, and moreover, you’re already of age—your moon water hasn’t come yet, has it?”

Si Zi trembled all over with excitement, clutching the quilt as she asked worriedly, “You mean we have to leave Chang’an? Can we not go too far? I can’t bear to leave Father Emperor and Mother Empress.”

While changing back into her black clothing and black skirt, Yinniang said to Si Zi, “In this world, you must give up something to gain something. If you’re unwilling to give up anything, you’ll gain nothing. Only in this way can you have great fortune. We are a group of people who struggle with fate for our lives. Heaven and earth are impartial, so we can only fight for ourselves. That which escapes is everywhere and nowhere—if you can grasp it, you can survive!”

“I’ll teach you methods to grasp this thing. Whether you can grasp it depends on your own ability. You are now a noble imperial princess. After following me, you’ll only be a common country youth. Think it through clearly—the wealthy life doesn’t belong to us; it will only weaken our will.”

Si Zi clapped her hands joyfully. She knew very clearly that even if she left with Yinniang, she would still be Princess Jinyang. This wouldn’t change in the slightest. She could return after getting her body fixed. Who would dare question her identity? Father Emperor would certainly cut off their head.

She had always yearned for the wandering hero’s life. When she used to live in the imperial palace, looking at the four-cornered eaves, she would fantasize about the outside world—wielding a long sword, riding a spirited horse, traveling the four directions as a vigilante, punishing the wicked and supporting the weak. Advancing meant serving home and country, like a hidden dragon rising from the depths. Retreating meant preserving oneself wisely, like a dragon returning to the great sea. This was the life she wanted. If her aunt could compete with heroes amid thousands of troops and horses, settling the Guanzhong region, why couldn’t she? Once she repaired this wretched body, truly the sky would be high for birds to fly and the sea broad for fish to leap.

How could Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou’s daughter possibly be some gentle, delicate little woman? The Li family might have all sorts of princesses, but they would never have weak princesses.

Having made up her mind to wander the martial world with Yinniang, Si Zi began packing her bundle. Yinniang watched helplessly as the enormous bundle took shape and said to Si Zi, “That won’t do. You can only take two changes of clothes. As for these dolls, the blanket cannot be taken, the osmanthus cakes cannot be taken, the tea set certainly cannot be brought. This sword is quite good—I can help you carry it. What is this small black round ball? And this tiny crossbow also cannot be taken—clearly it’s a child’s toy and won’t hurt anyone.”

Si Zi reluctantly put down the stuffed bear, set aside her soft embroidered blanket, and discarded the pile of clothes. However, she stubbornly stuffed two small black round balls into her waist and picked up two palm-sized crossbows. After loading them with bolts and releasing the trigger mechanism, a four-inch-long crossbow bolt whooshed forth and embedded itself in a pillar. Yinniang walked over to examine it and discovered the bolt had penetrated half an inch into the pillar. She pulled out the bolt and sniffed it lightly at her nose—a faint honey scent wafted over.

“You smeared it with poison?”

“No, it’s a type of itching powder. I got it from Sister Xiao Wu.” Si Zi stared at Yinniang with innocent eyes.

“Those two small black iron balls must also have been obtained from her, right? This thing is too vicious. My arm was injured by this very thing.”

Si Zi very sensibly pulled out one explosive projectile and handed it to Yinniang—the meaning of sharing the spoils was obvious.

Yinniang’s sleeve brushed across Si Zi’s hand, and the explosive projectile in her hand vanished without a trace.

Empress Zhangsun stood in a dark corner, watching as Yinniang took Si Zi over the high wall and disappeared into the darkness. Li Er, hidden even more deeply, clapped his hands, and two eunuchs appeared before him.

“Follow the Princess. Until the Princess’s ailment is cured, do not disturb the Princess, nor allow anyone else to harm the Princess!” As soon as Li Er finished speaking, the two eunuchs bowed in acknowledgment. After rising, they climbed the high wall like apes and also vanished into the darkness.

“Master Sun, are you certain that Yinniang is also a person with congenital deficiencies?” Empress Zhangsun wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and asked Sun Simiao, who stood with his head bowed in thought.

“Certain, absolutely certain. She should have died long ago, yet now she lives so healthily. How truly strange!”