The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

The young woman called Xingke slightly raised her eyes. Her pale, bloodless face was indifferent and devoid of any emotion. She said, "Scared? If the Phoenix Maiden is scared, how can she be called the Phoenix Maiden? Black Wind, concern makes you lose your composure."

Hei Feng smiled noncommittally and looked at Jian Yue, saying, "I'll hand you over to Xing Ke. You can go with her."

After Hei Feng finished speaking, he turned and left without waiting for Jian Yue to ask why.

Jian Yue didn't want to ask anything. Since she was already here, she couldn't care less what Hei Feng was going to do. So she decided to just accept it as it was.

"Are you a woman?"

Jian Yue asked uncertainly. The young man in front of her was dressed in black men's clothing and had his hair tied up with a crown. He had a face like jade, skin like cream, a slender figure, and small hands. He was completely unrelated to the word "man".

Don't blame Jian Yue for seeing the man's hands. It's because when this young man came up, he was dressed in black and exuded an aura that kept people at a distance. Apart from his pale and indifferent face, only his hands looked small and delicate against the backdrop of the night. She couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Then, listening to her speak, although her voice was hoarse and had a sense of vicissitude, it could not be compared with a male voice. At most, it was somewhere between male and female, with a unique androgynous charm.

Upon hearing this, Xing Ke looked at Jian Yue and nodded to her, saying, "Yes, I am a woman, but it is more convenient to dress as a man, so I dressed like this. Phoenix Maiden, please."

Xingke stepped aside, waved to the dark exit, and Jianyue glanced at it before heading straight down.

Below, it wasn't as dark as she had imagined. Further in, scattered lights guided the way. Jian Yue looked around and said as she walked, "Were these lit especially for me?"

Xingke nodded and asked, "How did the Phoenix Maiden figure it out?"

Jian Yue smiled and said, "The candlelight is strong, but this passage is not well ventilated. If this thing is burned for a long time, even if there is a ventilation opening, there will inevitably be a strong smell."

Moreover, as you walked forward, you never looked in the direction you were going; you were just following your instincts. It seems you're used to this kind of path and can navigate it with ease even in the dark.

And that candlestick, though old and mottled, was spotless. If you really lit candles frequently, even with regular wiping, there would still be traces of lamp oil. After all, it's so high up, you can't wipe it many times. So, this candlestick was only wiped when the candle was placed on it, and not long ago, just during the day!

Upon hearing this, Xingke nodded and said, "Your observation is truly remarkable. The Phoenix Maiden is indeed exquisite and insightful."

Jian Yue shook her head and laughed sarcastically, "It's not exactly exquisite, just a reaction speed forced out of her, you and I both know that. By the way, your name is Xing Ke?"

"My name is Xingke, Xing as in stars, and Ke as in the mutual generation and restraint of all things."

Jian Yue pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's a very meaningful name, but why do you call me Phoenix Maiden?"

"Phoenix Maiden and Phoenix Maiden, twins from the same mother, fought for the world, one dying and the other living."

As Xingke spoke, she looked up ahead. Jianyue followed her gaze and saw a large gate slowly opening. The stone gate was heavy and silent, giving it an extremely solemn appearance.

Once the stone gate was fully open, Xingke continued, "Once the Phoenix Maiden steps through this gate, there is no turning back. Do you still wish to continue?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue suddenly smiled and asked, "When have I ever had a way out? Haven't you all forced me to come this far? My obedience is only so that I can live well and complete what I haven't finished."

And now, you still ask me if I should continue? If I say I don't want to continue, what will you do? I believe your hidden dagger has already given the answer; do I need to say anything more?

Xingke paused, his gaze focusing on Jianyue. In the candlelight, the mocking expression on Jianyue's face was even more obvious. Seeing Xingke raise his eyes, she continued, "Phoenix and Phoenix Maiden, are they mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining? Are they destined to die or live? Is this the fate you have ordained for us?"

But I find it laughable. Man proposes, God disposes; fate is in the hands of man. I, as a Grandmaster, cannot control the course of events, but I do have the power to stop them, don't I? Xingke, your name is your destiny, isn't it?

As soon as Jian Yue finished speaking, Xing Ke trembled. Her gaze suddenly sharpened, and the shuriken that Jian Yue had pointed out suddenly appeared, its tip pointing directly at Jian Yue.

Jian Yue shrugged and laughed, "You got angry because your weakness was hit? This is not the result of the Ironclad Soldier's training. So, I have two guesses. First, everything you are doing now is to test me, to examine me, just like last time when I withstood the attack of a hundred people. Only if I pass will I be truly recognized by you."

Secondly, you are not a member of the Ironclad Soldiers, yet you are with them, and Black Wind seems to trust you greatly. Today, his decision to have me come down with you proves this point.

But now that the door is open, why aren't you moving forward? What do you want to say to me? Or what do you want to talk about? Is it related to Black Wind? Is it related to the Ironclad Soldiers?

"I know none of this. After all, I don't know your relationship with the armored soldiers and Black Wind. I can only guess that you are important to them! So, what are you trying to say?"

Xingke pursed his lips, and after a long while, he sheathed his sword, lowered his sleeve, and said with his eyes down, "I am the fortune teller they speak of, the prophet they rely on for survival."

My clansmen were reclusive healers, skilled in divination and fortune-telling; everything they said came true. Yet, five hundred years ago, their entire clan was slaughtered, their lineage utterly destroyed.

Jian Yue was taken aback, not understanding why Xing Ke was saying all this. She then saw Xing Ke turn around, look at the open door, and slowly walk towards it. Jian Yue followed, and Xing Ke continued:

"We do not know who slaughtered our clan. However, the clan chief had foreseen this disaster long before, but did not know when it would happen. So he sent one or two clansmen out to travel every day, hoping to preserve a bloodline for the clan."

He remained with the tribe, trying to figure out how to escape the disaster. But fate was unkind; the catastrophe still struck, and quite suddenly. Our tribe was wiped out, even though the chieftain had made thorough preparations.

Jian Yue frowned: "So, you are from that branch of the bloodline that traveled abroad?"

Xingke nodded and continued, "That was my great-grandfather. He was away for seven days when the entire clan was wiped out. On the day the clan was wiped out, my great-grandfather received a letter from the clan chief, which described the situation and told him not to go back and not to destroy the last bloodline."

Jian Yue was somewhat confused and asked, "Since there was a letter, it means that the clan chief was not dead at that time and was very safe. And the fact that your great-grandfather received the letter one day means that although your great-grandfather was on the road for seven days, he was not far from home."

Your great-grandfather's return will only take a day or two, and the fact that this letter was delivered safely proves that the journey was very safe. How could anything have happened on the way back?

Unless this letter is bait, but that's not enough. Why would someone capable of wiping out your entire clan go to such lengths to lure a young man back? Wouldn't it be simpler for him to just come and kill your grandfather?

Upon hearing this, Xingke suddenly smiled, his indifferent mask breaking, revealing the weariness and helplessness on the child's face. Jian Yue felt a pang of heartache for no reason. She stepped forward, about to say something, but paused, frowning as she looked at Xingke for a long time.

Xingke ignored Jianyue's expression and continued, "Yes, all of this seems so simple, but my great-grandfather's divination showed that he would surely die if he went back."

Jian Yue was taken aback again and said, "So strange? Can't the divination be wrong? Always believing in these unfounded things can sometimes put you in a very passive position. Why not confirm it for yourself?"

In Jian Yue's view, the divination could be believed, but it should not be blindly believed. Just like now, her past, present and future with Qiu Lingyu were all bound by this so-called divination. How could she be willing to accept that?

Xingke shook his head, his gaze somewhat blank and unfocused.

“The divination results are never wrong, so we cannot take any risks. My great-grandfather then lay in wait near the clan’s territory to observe the situation. Three days later, a merchant from the sea brought news that our clan’s territory was stained with blood in the sea for three days without stopping.”

My great-grandfather tentatively asked the merchants if anyone was still in that area, but they replied that the bloodstained monstrous beast had attracted sharks, making it impossible to approach; ships had to avoid it altogether.

Jian Yue was horrified: "So, that place has become a dead zone?"

"Grandfather waited another month, and month after month passed. The merchants who came and went no longer talked about that place. Helpless, Grandfather finally set off to go back."

But when he returned following the route he knew so well, he discovered that the clan's territory was gone.

Jian Yue was startled and said, "Gone?"

Xingke sneered: "Yes, it's gone. It vanished into thin air. There's nothing left. Even the merchants and tour guides who know the roads don't know what happened. Because it's so strange, people avoid talking about it ever since."

At this point, Xingke suddenly stopped again. At this moment, they were only a few steps away from the gate. Xingke looked at Jianyue and said, "Your future was indeed planned by someone, but you are different from fate. I can't detect it. In fact, your destiny and your current path are completely opposite, forming two extremes."

So I think this is a variable; perhaps you will become the only flaw and opportunity in this destiny. However, I have never told anyone about it.

Jian Yue frowned: "What exactly do you mean by that?"

Xingke shook his head: "Remember your original intention. Only by staying true to your original intention can you achieve your goal. I'm waiting for the moment you succeed. All you need to do is help me with one thing."