Floating life reflects two lotuses

Deep within the palace, a night breeze swept through the long corridor outside the Jinhuang Palace, and a few palace lanterns swayed gently in the wind, illuminating Consort Yan's figure half-hidden behind the curtain.

"Master, everything has been arranged." A personal maid said softly, a hint of pride in her voice.

Consort Yan's gaze was like water as she gently turned the teacup in her hand: "The Phoenix Festival is a grand ceremony for the royal family to pray for blessings. This time, with the unusual phenomenon in the palace and the guidance of that expert, the Emperor will definitely not refuse. As long as the ceremony succeeds, Chu Wanlian... ha, she will never be able to turn her life around."

The old woman lowered her voice: "Will that bracelet from the princess's residence really, as the expert said, completely sever her fate?"

Yan Fei's lips curled slightly, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes: "The master made it clear when he cast the spell that this chain uses the soul as a guide. As long as the power of the sacrifice is used to activate the spell, she can be completely eliminated—without leaving any trace."

The old woman nodded repeatedly, her voice tinged with excitement: "I will keep a close eye on her movements to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Consort Yan waved her hand, her voice calm: "Go. This time, I will not allow any mistakes."

In the Princess's mansion late at night, undercurrents are surging.

Moonlight streamed through the carved window lattice onto the desk, the candlelight flickering in the room, and the shadows on the walls danced like ghostly figures. Xiao Jinlian sat at the desk, repeatedly toying with the white jade bracelet in her hand, her brows furrowed.

"What are you staring at like that for?" Chu Wanlian's voice suddenly rang in his mind, tinged with disdain. "Could it be that you can see some secret in it?"

“I just feel like it’s been acting strange lately.” Xiao Jinlian carefully touched the runes on the bracelet, her brows furrowing even deeper. “Also, why is this room so cold tonight, like an icebox?”

"Cold?" Chu Wanlian scoffed. "What should really frighten you is not the cold, but that someone is manipulating all of this. If I'm not mistaken, this must be Consort Yan's doing."

"What is she up to now?" Upon hearing the name "Consort Yan," Xiao Jinlian's heart skipped a beat, and her hand trembled, almost dropping the bracelet. She quickly steadied herself, casually placing it back on the desk, and adopted a nonchalant demeanor: "I say, since you knew she was a menace, why didn't you just refuse her gift in the first place?"

Chu Wanlian sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Do you think I, the princess, don't want to? But she is Father Emperor's favorite concubine, and everyone in the palace knows it. If I refuse on the spot, wouldn't that be playing right into her hands? Then, she only needs to pretend to be pitiful, and Father Emperor will side with her."

"Then why don't you just throw it away!" Xiao Jinlian muttered. "Isn't keeping this thing just adding to the annoyance?"

"Now? It's too late." Chu Wanlian's voice turned cold. "This bracelet has been enchanted, and it's connected to our souls. If we handle it carelessly, it could not only harm innocent people, but also expose my true identity."

Xiao Jinlian rolled her eyes and was about to retort when there was a sudden, urgent knocking on the door.

"Princess, General Li Heng requests an audience." It was Si Lan's voice, her tone revealing a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"Brother Liheng?" Xiao Jinlian was stunned for a moment, then immediately heard Chu Wanlian's warning in her mind: "Don't just stand there! You can't give yourself away!"

"Okay, okay," Xiao Jinlian replied in a low voice, quickly straightening her clothes and clearing her throat. "Let him in quickly."

The door was gently pushed open, and a tall, slender figure walked in. Li Heng was dressed in dark brocade robes, a sword at his waist. Although he looked somewhat weary, his heroic spirit remained undiminished. After entering, his gaze swept around the room, finally settling on Xiao Jinlian. His eyes softened slightly: "Lian'er, I've heard that strange things have been happening in your household, so I came to check on you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, it's nothing serious." Xiao Jinlian waved her hand with an awkward smile, lowering her eyes guiltily, not daring to look him in the eye. Li Heng's gaze was as calm as a deep pool, and she always felt that he was watching her every move.

Li Heng took a step forward, his tone now tinged with concern: "Lian'er, do you know that Consort Yan has suggested that His Majesty hold a Phoenix Festival?"

"Phoenix Sacrifice?" Xiao Jinlian was stunned, her eyes widening reflexively. Chu Wanlian's voice immediately echoed in her mind: "As expected, it was her... I knew this vixen wouldn't let it go."

“The Phoenix Festival is a grand ceremony for the royal family to pray for blessings and ward off evil, but I’m worried…” Li Heng paused, his brows furrowing slightly, “Yan Fei’s true intention is not to pray for blessings, but to target you.”

"Attack me?" Xiao Jinlian subconsciously looked up, her eyes revealing unconcealed panic.

“I’ve heard from a wise man that the strange phenomena in your residence are related to your fate. I’m afraid Consort Yan is trying to use this opportunity to make the Emperor suspicious of you.” Li Heng’s voice was low and firm, his eyes full of worry.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful." Xiao Jinlian forced herself to calm down, gave a faint smile, and nodded in response, but her fingertips turned slightly white from unconsciously clenching her sleeves.

"No matter what happens, I will protect you." Li Heng looked at her, his eyes filled with undisguised affection and promise.

Xiao Jinlian felt a surge of complex emotions as he looked at her like that. She lowered her head and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Liheng."

Seeing her gentle expression, Li Heng smiled slightly and said, "Get some rest. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Watching Li Heng's departing figure, Xiao Jinlian's palms were already soaked with sweat. She closed the door and returned to her desk, her mind like a kite with a tangled string, unable to find any peace.

"I said, wasn't your attitude just now too casual?" Chu Wanlian's voice rang in my mind again, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction. "Brother Liheng will definitely suspect you."

"I think he trusts me quite a bit!" Xiao Jinlian retorted stubbornly, but her tone lacked confidence.

"Hmph, don't forget, he's my future..." Chu Wanlian's voice carried a hint of warning, "If you mess this up, I will never forgive you."

"Okay, okay, I have no interest in competing with you for a man." Xiao Jinlian waved her hand impatiently, but the image of Li Heng's affectionate gaze from earlier inexplicably surfaced in her mind, and her heart felt a little warm.

"But seriously, your brother Li Heng really cares about you, and he's a god-like figure." She couldn't help but tease him.

"Shut up!" Chu Wanlian snapped angrily. "Don't you dare think such things!"

Xiao Jinlian chuckled, seemingly enjoying the pleasure of teasing her: "Alright, alright, 'your Li Heng brother,' I will definitely protect him."

"Do you really want me to participate in the sacrificial ceremony then?" Xiao Jinlian suddenly asked seriously.

"You must remember, the most skillful hunter is the one who disguises himself as the prey. If you want to find out who's behind this vixen, this is the only way," Chu Wanlian said meaningfully.

Outside the window, the night wind blew, lifting a fallen leaf from the treetop. Moonlight spilled onto the ground, adding a layer of mysterious light and shadow to the undercurrents within the palace.