After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

After careful consideration, Master Xuanqing took a deep breath, endured Xiang An's amused smile, bowed properly, and stiffly explained, "Your Majesty, this old Taoist priest was just being nosy and asked about the health of Marquis Anwu, but he ignored me. In a fit of anger, I lost control of my tongue and said some shrewish things."

Seeing the Jianghu Taoist priest who was stomping his feet and cursing furiously just a moment ago transform into a calm and composed royal Taoist priest the next, Xiang Xin couldn't help but smile: "It's nothing. I'm actually quite pleased to have witnessed the rare shrewish side of Taoist Master Xuanqing."

Master Xuanqing straightened his back, persisting, and asked again, "May I ask, Lord Marquis, have you been feeling unwell lately?"

Fu Qingbai's expression remained unchanged, and he still did not answer.

Before the emperor had left, Master Xuanqing could no longer remain vague in his questioning. With an elegant, otherworldly air, he tapped his fingers and said, "Recently, things haven't been peaceful in the Yuan Kingdom. This old Taoist has a vague feeling that something is amiss. A few days ago, I divined that a vengeful ghost had infiltrated the country, and I was planning to tell Your Majesty about it today."

"Just now, I saw a fierce ghost following Marquis Anwu! Your Majesty, humans are yang and ghosts are yin. If a living person has a fierce ghost by their side, at best they will be plagued by bad luck, at worst they will die, and even worse, it may affect the country and the nation."

A certain ghost looked at An: "..."

Xiang An rolled his eyes: "If you're going to lie, at least make it believable. No one will believe something this exaggerated."

No sooner had she spoken than she was proven wrong. Xiang Xin hurriedly walked to Master Xuanqing's side, took his hand, and led him toward the Imperial Study: "This matter is of great importance. Please come into the Imperial Study to discuss it in detail, Master. Marquis Anwu, come along with us."

As Master Xuanqing walked, he turned back and smiled at Xiang An, his boastful tone extremely obvious. Xiang An couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. He lifted his foot, wanting to follow him inside to eavesdrop, but an invisible barrier blocked his way.

She looked back and saw Fu Qingbai standing still, his eyes fixed on a point in the void. He seemed to know something and was so shocked that he couldn't believe it and stood there dumbfounded.

Xiang An spread his five fingers and waved them in front of his eyes: "What are you daydreaming about? It's time to go."

Fu Qingbai didn't react at all, standing there like a wooden statue, not moving an inch. Xiang An waited for a while and then lightly sat on his shoulder to rest leisurely.

"Lord Anwu, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Study," Changfu said, bowing as he approached.

"I'll go in now." Fu Qingbai snapped out of his reverie and handed the memorial in his hand to Changfu. "Send it to my residence."

Changfu hesitated for a moment, but still agreed: "Yes."

Watching Changfu's figure disappear into the distance, Fu Qingbai opened his mouth and said, "You should go now."

"Huh?" Xiang An looked around, but there was no one there. "There's no one here. Are you having a fit?"

Fu Qingbai: "Princess Miankang, Master Xuanqing is not a low-class swindler in the martial arts world. His strength should not be underestimated. If you do not want to be wiped out, I advise you to leave as soon as possible."

Xiang An's mind went blank. She could hardly look away, staring at him intently. Her heart almost stopped, and she stumbled over her words several times before finally managing to utter a complete sentence: "You...you can see me?"

Although he was the second to see it, knowing that Fu Qingbai could see her and knowing that Master Xuanqing could see her were two completely different states of mind. The former was shock, while the latter was surprise.

Fu Qingbai didn't answer her question, but continued, "Are you shocked that I knew it was you? To be honest, I can't see you, and I don't know your identity. I just hope that you, the person I can't see, are you. If you can hear me, and if you are Princess Miankang, then leave the palace immediately."

Xiang An circled him again and again, but when she realized his eyes weren't following her movements, she couldn't help but sigh, "How do you know I don't want to leave? But I can't leave!"

A punch landed on the invisible barrier around him, producing only a muffled "bang" sound, and had no other effect.

Fu Qingbai was unaware of the situation. He stood there for a while, guessing that the people around him had gone far away, before slowly entering the Imperial Study.

The imperial study was still filled with the stench of blood. It was exactly as it had been when they left, and it was exactly the same when they came back in. Master Xuanqing and the emperor sat on two chairs amidst the chaos, chatting excitedly.

Fu Qingbai waved to the outside, and Changfu led several guards into the room. They moved the body away, cleaned up the bloodstains, lit new incense, and replaced the tea, snacks, and charcoal with practiced and efficient movements.

After a long while, a subtle fragrance filled the air, with the scents of books, ink, and tea lingering in the nostrils, and the Imperial Study regained its usual calm, dignified, and majestic atmosphere.

Xiang Xin pointed to a chair below him: "Minister Fu, sit down. Quickly answer what Daoist Xuanqing asked you outside."

Fu Qingbai paused in his tea-serving hand: "He is in very good health, there is nothing wrong with him."

Xiang Xin's expression instantly fell, and she said with a sullen face, "Daoist Master, it's not what you said."

Clearly, before Fu Qingbai entered the imperial study, Master Xuanqing had already told him many things about ghosts and monsters.

Master Xuanqing's expression remained unchanged as he carefully examined Xiang An, who was perched on his shoulder, before asking, "May I ask Your Majesty, have any princesses left the palace in recent years?"

Xiang Xin was taken aback, but quickly recovered. She frowned slightly: "What makes you say that, Daoist Master?"

Master Xuanqing stroked his white beard and said leisurely, "This vengeful ghost is dressed in royal palace attire, brocade robes, and embroidered with flowers. Only members of the royal family can wear such clothes."

Fu Qingbai tilted his head slightly, his long, dark gaze falling on the empty space beside him. His slender fingers tapped lightly on the table: "Does the Taoist mean that the vengeful ghost is still with me?"

“Of course.” Master Xuanqing stood up, walked beside him, and touched the ground with his toes. “Right here.”

Xiang Xin and Fu Qingbai exchanged a glance, each with a meaningful look in their eyes, before both looking away.

Xiang An reached out to grab Master Xuanqing's beard, but missed. Master Xuanqing laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "Hahahaha, you can't grab me, you can't grab me."

Cheap swish.

Xiang An snorted coldly, sat on Fu Qingbai's shoulder, extended a finger to him, and beckoned him lightly, asking provocatively, "Do you dare?"

Master Xuanqing looked on in astonishment: "Lord Anwu! Can you feel something on your shoulder?"

Fu Qingbai leaned back silently and shook his head: "No."

Upon hearing this, Master Xuanqing's eyes lit up instantly, and he smacked his lips repeatedly: "Interesting! Interesting!"

The two grown men faced each other in silence. One looked like a starving dog eyeing fresh meat, while the other stared at him with icy eyes, creating a scene that was both bizarre and harmonious.

Xiang Xin, sitting in the main seat, slammed her hand heavily on the table, causing the teacup to shake three times and spill some tea. Master Xuanqing touched his nose, having no choice but to suppress his playful and mischievous thoughts and sit properly.

Xiang Xin pondered for a moment and said, "Daoist Master, do you recognize her?"

Master Xuanqing sighed regretfully and recounted his encounter with Xiang An. After a brief pause, he cautiously began, "Afterwards, I returned to the palace and examined the portraits of all the deceased princesses of the Yuan Kingdom. Among them, the only deceased princess whose appearance best matched the ghost's condition was Princess Miankang!"

Xiang An remained expressionless. Fu Qingbai's fingers trembled slightly, and Xiang Xin's expression turned gloomy and desolate in an instant. A half-smile appeared on his lips: "So it's Xiao Jiu who's back."

Xiang Xin's fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of the white jade cup slowly: "On the day I ascended the throne, she said she wanted to kill someone?"

"..." Master Xuanqing frowned, as if he felt something was amiss.