Floating life reflects two lotuses

Consort Yan sat upright on the soft couch, gently stroking a lit palace lantern in her hand. The light reflected on her face, revealing a hint of weariness amidst her cold demeanor. Her gaze was fixed on the lamplight, as if she were lost in deep thought.

A series of light footsteps sounded, and a wise man slowly walked in from outside the hall, bowed, and had a faint smile on his face: "Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess has been making frequent moves recently, and she seems to have noticed some clues."

Consort Yan did not respond immediately, but placed the lamp on the table in front of her and sighed softly. After a moment, she said softly, "How could she not know that this game could have been played in a way that didn't end up like this?"

Upon hearing this, the expert's expression shifted slightly, and his tone carried a hint of probing: "Does Your Highness regret your decision? In fact, if another spell were added, the situation could perhaps be stabilized completely."

"Enough." Consort Yan coldly raised her hand to interrupt, a hint of impatience in her eyes. "I never intended to harm her. The magic I used was only meant to keep her away from the palace intrigues and let her live a peaceful life in another place. But she... was determined to bring me down."

The expert raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone laced with sarcasm: "If Your Majesty harbors any mercy, I fear that in the end, it will be you who suffers."

Consort Yan smiled slightly upon hearing this, her gaze lingering on the night outside the window: "Do you think I'm afraid of her? I just... don't want to see her walk down a dead end." She paused, her voice lowering slightly, "Her mother has been kind to me, and I don't want to destroy her only bloodline."

The expert's eyes flickered slightly, his tone carrying a hint of coldness: "But Your Majesty, if she continues like this, not only you, but the entire Yan clan will be implicated. Are you willing to bear such consequences?"

Consort Yan remained silent for a moment, a bitter smile appearing on her lips: "How could I not know this? However, Chu Wanlian is not an easy person to deal with. She inherited her mother's wisdom and resilience. She is now pressing me step by step, and I can only test her carefully and not act rashly."

"Testing?" The expert lowered his head and smiled slightly, seemingly finding the word somewhat ridiculous. "Your Majesty, with the Princess's intelligence, she will only see your test as a provocation."

Consort Yan gently stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist, her voice tinged with weariness: "I know. So, if she's willing to back down, I won't go so far as to kill her. But if she insists on being my enemy..." She raised her eyes, a cold glint flashing in them, "I won't sit idly by and wait to die."

The expert smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated her words: "Your Majesty is indeed meticulous. However, the appearance of that rune stone seems to have put the Princess in a new situation. Perhaps we can use it to see how far she can go."

Consort Yan narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice, "The rune stone... This was originally a relic left by her mother. I originally thought that keeping it would protect her from a calamity. But now it seems that it may become her death warrant."

The expert nodded slightly, his tone tinged with mystery: "This object is indeed intricately connected to the Princess. If she touches it, it will activate the residual power of the magic. At that time, she will not only be unable to protect herself, but will also invite an even greater crisis."

Consort Yan pondered for a moment, a mocking smile appearing on her lips: "She thinks she has the situation under control, but little does she know, the real danger has only just begun. I want her to know that this game of chess in the palace is not one she can easily turn around."

The expert took out a scroll of runes from his sleeve and slowly unfurled it. The symbols on it were complex and mysterious, emitting a faint light: "Your Majesty, the next plan only requires your nod to plunge the Princess into an even deeper quagmire."

Consort Yan stared at the scroll, her gaze gradually turning icy: "Don't push me to this point. I need more time to see where her bottom line is. If she's willing to back down, I'll spare her life. If she isn't... then don't blame me for being ruthless."

The expert lowered his head slightly, a hint of a secret smile in his voice: "Your Majesty is soft-hearted, but your subject will not be lenient. Please await good news."

After watching the expert leave, Consort Yan sat alone by the window, gazing at the starry sky. She sighed softly and murmured to herself, "Wanlian, if it weren't for your mother, why would I hesitate like this? You're determined to drive me into a corner, but if it really comes to that, who can protect you?"

She took out the stone fragment from her sleeve, identical to the rune stone discovered by the princess, and gently stroked the symbols on it with her fingertips. The light shone on her face, outlining a complex expression.

"There's no turning back now."

My thoughts gradually drifted back to that day.

When Consort Yan learned that Princess Chu Wanlian was determined to avenge her mother, she felt not anger, but a deep-seated fear.

"How much does she know?" Consort Yan's voice trembled as she gripped her personal maid's wrist tightly. "Her mother is long gone, so how could this have reached her ears?"

The maid knelt on the ground trembling, not daring to meet her gaze: "Your Highness, the Princess has recently been frequently reviewing old royal cases and has developed suspicions about the death of the Imperial Concubine many years ago. Also, there are rumors in the palace that... that you are involved in that matter."

"Nonsense!" Consort Yan suddenly stood up, her chest heaving violently, a hint of panic in her eyes. "She wants me to be brought to justice? What right does she have!"

All of this made her realize that Chu Wanlian was not just a princess, but also the only bloodline left by the gentle yet intelligent imperial concubine. The imperial concubine had been kind to her during her lifetime, but Consort Yan knew that she had to plot the imperial concubine's death for the sake of her family's interests, and the imperial concubine's existence was the greatest threat to her power.

“Wanlian…” Consort Yan murmured to herself, her tone complicated, “If you can pretend you know nothing, I’m willing to spare your life.”

But as it turns out, Chu Wanlian will not give up so easily.

Unable to sit idly by and wait for her fate, Consort Yan finally chose to seek help from a master.

He was a reclusive sorcerer living outside the imperial city, who had once displayed remarkable skills in court rituals. Consort Yan knew that the only person in the world who could help her was this master. In order to seek the support of her magic, she was even willing to risk her life.

When Consort Yan first stepped into that dimly lit magic array, the master was sitting cross-legged in the center, meditating with his eyes closed. The surrounding walls were covered with complex runes, and several stone slabs emitting a faint light were placed at the center of the array.

"Your Majesty, do you intend to get rid of her, or do you have other plans?" The expert spoke in a deep and steady voice, as if he had already seen through her thoughts.

Consort Yan bit her lip, lowered her eyes, and said, "I don't want to kill her. I just want her to leave here and get away from the palace. As long as she's gone, the feud between us can be over."

The expert opened his eyes, his gaze profound: "If Your Majesty is unwilling to kill her, you will have to bear greater risks. The power of magic may not be as you wish."

Yan Fei looked up at him, her eyes filled with a long-suppressed stubbornness: "I just want her to get away from this place, even... to go to another world, to change her identity, and to forget all her obsessions. Can you do that?"

The master gazed at her for a moment, then slowly nodded: "The technique of soul exchange can send her soul to a place completely unrelated to this. However, this technique is subject to change. If her obsession is too strong, the technique will be affected, or even... out of control."

“I can handle any changes,” Consort Yan said resolutely. “I have already done more than enough by sparing her life.”

The master nodded slightly, his voice tinged with mystery: "In that case, Your Highness, please prepare the necessary items. We can begin the ritual in three days."

That night, under the guidance of a master, Consort Yan witnessed the execution of a soul-swapping technique. Runes flickered within the magic circle, and rune stones were arranged in an array, gradually emitting a blinding light. Chu Wanlian, controlled by drugs, lay unconscious in the center of the magic circle.

“Your Majesty, this is the crucial moment for the spell.” The expert stood outside the magic array, his eyes fixed on the rotating runes. “If her soul’s obsession is not too deep, the spell can be completed smoothly.”

Consort Yan held her breath, her hands clenched tightly, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

However, just as the spell was about to be completed, Chu Wanlian's body suddenly trembled violently, and the surrounding rune light instantly became chaotic, as if it had been interfered with.

"What happened?" Consort Yan exclaimed, her eyes filled with fear.

"Her obsession is too strong!" The expert's voice deepened, and his hands quickly formed hand seals. "The spell has been backfired by her soul power, and the spatial rift is widening!"

Consort Yan quickly took a few steps back, almost losing her balance from the blinding light. The runes in the magic array suddenly shattered, accompanied by a low tremor. Chu Wanlian's body fell silent, but a residual spiritual energy fluctuation remained in the magic array, lingering for a long time.

"Did the spell fail?" Consort Yan asked anxiously.

The expert wiped the cold sweat from his brow, looking at the magic array with a complex expression: "No, the spell is partially complete. But her soul power is too strong, and the spell has not been fully effective. Although her soul has been sent to another place, it can still maintain contact with this place in some way."

"What does this mean?" Consort Yan asked in a low voice, a sense of unease rising in her heart.

"This means that the eldest princess has not only not distanced herself from the strife, but may actually use the residual power of the magic to regain everything she has lost." The expert's tone carried a hint of warning. "Your Majesty, the consequences of magic going out of control are more serious than you imagine."

From then on, Yan Fei's nightmares began one after another.

Although the eldest princess appeared calm on the surface, she secretly began to make arrangements, constantly testing Yan Fei's limits. The appearance of the rune stone further made Yan Fei realize that Chu Wanlian had not truly escaped the palace's machinations. On the contrary, she was using the residual power of magic to find an opportunity for her revenge.

Inside the Jinhuang Palace, Consort Yan gripped the rune stone in her hand again, her heart filled with mixed emotions: "Chu Wanlian, I never intended to hurt you. But if you insist on not letting me go, then don't blame me for being ruthless."