“No, not leaving?”
In that instant, the Grand Elder thought he had misheard and glanced at Elder Hua.
Elder Hua nodded firmly.
She hadn’t misheard, though she too had experienced that illusion.
Elder Hua and the Grand Elder exchanged looks.
Not leaving was good; they hadn’t wanted to let her go in the first place.
Meeting Jiang Si’s icy expression, the Grand Elder felt a chill in his heart.
Why did he feel uneasy about her voluntarily staying?
The Grand Elder decided to be cautious: “Your brother disappeared within the village. We will certainly do our utmost to find him. However, given the suddenness of the event and the chaos of the New Fire Festival with so many people coming and going, it may be difficult to make any discoveries immediately…”
Jiang Si’s lips curved slightly as she replied unhurriedly, “I’ve already said, that if my brother isn’t found, I won’t leave.”
Elder Hua couldn’t help but say, “If the Princess Consort could truly stay, we Wu Miao couldn’t ask for more.”
If they could keep her without breaking their promise, that would be ideal.
The Grand Elder glanced at Elder Hua, showing no excitement.
Were there such windfalls? Elder Hua was truly too impatient.
Sure enough, Jiang Si smiled and said, “Don’t be hasty, Elder Hua. I haven’t finished speaking.”
Here it comes.
The Grand Elder and Elder Hua exchanged glances, then looked at Jiang Si in unison.
“Today, I had the honor of participating in the New Fire Festival as the Holy Maiden. Only then did I realize how extraordinary the Holy Maiden’s status is among the nobility and her deterrent effect on other tribes? I wonder what would happen if I were to take a liking to the Xue Miao Clan Leader?”
“Outrageous!” The Grand Elder blurted out.
The Wu Miao and Xue Miao had been at odds for a long time. Between them, it was always a matter of one side overpowering the other. If the Wu Miao Holy Maiden were to express affection for the Xue Miao Clan Leader, it would likely cause an uproar among the tribe members.
Jiang Si didn’t even raise an eyelid.
She wasn’t the real A Sang; why should she fear the Grand Elder’s rebuke?
Jiang Si’s nonchalant reaction made the Grand Elder calm down. After composing himself, he said, “I heard from Elder Hua that you are the Princess Consort of Great Zhou. How can you speak so carelessly?”
Weren’t Great Zhou women supposed to be reserved?
Jiang Si blinked, her expression innocent. “Am I not the Wu Miao Holy Maiden?”
The Grand Elder was taken aback.
“Since I am the Holy Maiden, of course, I can fancy whomever I wish. What does that have to do with being the Princess Consort of Great Zhou?”
Even if it brought shame, it would be a shame upon the entire Wu Miao tribe.
“The Xue Miao Clan Leader is nearly forty, with children not much younger than you, Princess Consort,” Elder Hua said, unable to contain herself.
Jiang Si smiled charmingly. “That doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I fancy him. When I grow tired of him, I can always change to someone else.”
The Grand Elder’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. “Have you considered our tribe’s Holy Maiden’s reputation?”
Jiang Si met the Grand Elder’s gaze, suddenly dropping her smile and coldly responding, “Grand Elder seems to have forgotten that I’m not the real Wu Miao Holy Maiden. What does the Holy Maiden’s reputation have to do with me? If I stay with the Wu Miao and I’m in a bad mood, I’ll do as I please. If the Grand Elder is dissatisfied, you can always dismiss Holy Maiden A Sang, and then I can return to Great Zhou to be their Princess Consort.”
Jiang Si’s words left the Grand Elder both angry and speechless.
This girl’s threat was all too reasonable!
Jiang Si poured herself a cup of tea, took a couple of sips, and said, “I figured it out early on. You’ve hidden my brother away, intending to make me stay. There’s no need for such measures. If I’m unhappy, I won’t leave even if you want me to. Grand Elder, are you sure you want a discontented Holy Maiden staying in your tribe?”
The Grand Elder’s face darkened, thoroughly threatened.
How had things turned out like this? They had been willing to do anything to keep her, and now she had them in the palm of her hand?
Jiang Si played with her teacup, appearing calm and indifferent.
The Wu Miao desperately needed a Holy Maiden, and she happened to look just like A Sang. Based on this alone, Wu Miao’s harassment of her would likely never end.
Rather than constantly being on guard against their various schemes, it was better to take the initiative and let them know how terrifying an unwilling Holy Maiden could be.
After a long silence, the Grand Elder suddenly sighed. “Your brother was taken away by your people, wasn’t he?”
Jiang Si’s eyebrows twitched slightly as she looked at the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder smiled. “Although I don’t know how you managed it, given your concern for your brother, Princess Consort, the fact that you can remain so calm now has a simple explanation. Your brother was taken by your people, and you’re certain he’s in no danger.”
Jiang Si didn’t respond, only smiled.
The Grand Elder, leading an entire tribe, naturally possessed some cunning. It wasn’t surprising that he had some suspicions.
She wasn’t afraid of him guessing; what mattered was making him realize she wasn’t a pawn to be manipulated, and to adopt a cooperative attitude before discussing anything further.
Yes, on this journey deep into Wu Miao territory, Jiang Si had already decided to cooperate.
In her past life and this one, since some things couldn’t be avoided, she might as well take control.
With Wu Miao as allies, she and A Jin’s future life in the capital might be more peaceful.
The Grand Elder, wise with age, understood her meaning from that smile.
He rose and walked to the window, gazing at the red flowers and green grass outside for a moment before turning to a bookshelf.
There was a tall table with a coiled wooden snake carving.
The green snake’s tongue flickered, lifelike.
The Grand Elder reached out and twisted the snake’s head. Suddenly, a faint click sounded, and the bookshelf swung open, revealing a hidden room behind it.
“Come in, all of you,” the Grand Elder said, seemingly having made a decision, his expression somewhat melancholic.
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow and sauntered in.
Look at that, being thick-skinned indeed had its benefits. In her previous life, she had lived with the Wu Miao for nearly three years but never knew of this secret room.
Elder Hua hesitated for a moment.
Given her position, she shouldn’t know too much.
But then she thought better of it.
She was the one who had brought the Yan Princess Consort back from the Great Zhou capital. Some secrets that she shouldn’t have known probably couldn’t be hidden from her now.
Elder Hua followed Jiang Si into the secret room.
The Grand Elder touched the snake’s head on the wall of the secret room, and the hidden door closed. The dim light in the room made his face look mysteriously dark.
Jiang Si quietly waited for the Grand Elder to speak, her expression self-assured.
Elder Hua also remained silent but felt inexplicably nervous.
If it wasn’t an extremely urgent matter, the Grand Elder wouldn’t need to speak in the secret room.
In this atmosphere, the Grand Elder finally spoke: “I heard from Elder Hua that when you first met, you already knew our tribe’s Holy Maiden was named A Sang?”
Jiang Si nodded.
“Can the Princess Consort tell me how you knew this?”
Jiang Si smiled. “The Prince told me.”
“The Princess Consort can speak fluent Wu Miao language—”
“The Prince taught me.”
“Then why does the Princess Consort possess insect control techniques that even our tribe’s Holy Maiden hasn’t mastered?” The Grand Elder’s gaze was intense as he stared at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si was slightly surprised inwardly.
The Grand Elder had directly admitted that A Sang hadn’t mastered insect control techniques. Was there something even more shocking to come?
Without waiting for Jiang Si to answer, the Grand Elder continued, “To be frank, our tribe’s Holy Maiden A Sang is no longer in this world.”