Floating life reflects two lotuses

On their way back to the palace, Xiao Jinlian was still haunted by the strange phenomena at the site of the offering of spirits.

That land, ravaged by the power of the curse, seemed to foreshadow some uncontrollable disaster that was quietly approaching.

Back at the palace, Xiao Jinlian carefully hid the rune fragments. Just as she was about to catch her breath, a palace servant rushed in to deliver a message that the emperor summoned her.

She frowned slightly, a vague unease rising in her heart.

Xiao Jinlian knelt in the center of the court, feeling the atmosphere around her was extremely oppressive.

The ministers' eyes all fell on her, some with curiosity, others with obvious dissatisfaction.

The emperor sat on his high throne, a hint of weariness showing between his brows. He swept his cold gaze over Xiao Jinlian, his voice low and deep: "Princess, can you explain what you brought back from your trip?"

Xiao Jinlian raised her head, her eyes clear yet neither humble nor arrogant: "Father, I have discovered some clues about the curse at the Land of Offering Spirits. This fragment of rune may be able to uncover the secret of the curse and thus save the Great Chu."

"The place of offering sacrifices..." the emperor repeated slowly, his tone scrutinizing, "That place has been a forbidden zone since ancient times. Why did you dare to trespass there?"

Before Xiao Jinlian could speak, a court official stepped forward, his face full of worry: "Your Majesty, the place of offering sacrifices has been regarded as an ominous place since ancient times. Did the Princess bring back something she shouldn't have touched, thus bringing disaster upon herself?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Yan stepped forward slowly, a polite smile on her face, but her tone held a sharp edge: "Your Majesty, I have heard that the strange phenomena at the Spirit Offering Site have affected the surrounding people, and many have even lost their lives as a result. I wonder if the fragments brought back by the Princess can truly resolve the crisis, or if they will bring even greater disaster?"

Xiao Jinlian's heart tightened, and she glanced at Consort Yan, noticing a strong hostility in her eyes.

She quickly composed herself and said firmly, "Father, everything I have done is for the safety of Great Chu. The strange phenomena at the Land of Sacrifice were not caused by me, but by the loosening of the seal. If we do not take action soon, the power of the curse will run even more rampant."

Consort Yan smiled slightly, her words carrying a hidden barb: "What the Princess says is indeed reasonable, but whether this rune fragment is truly useful is still uncertain. I only worry that if this fragment is misused, wouldn't it be like playing with fire?"

Her words were echoed by many ministers, and the court was filled with whispers.

Xiao Jinlian sneered inwardly, knowing that Consort Yan was clearly using this opportunity to incite the court officials and make her father suspicious of her.

The emperor was silent for a moment before asking, "Princess, do you have any way to prove that this fragment can indeed break the curse, rather than exacerbate the disaster?"

Xiao Jinlian met the emperor's gaze, her tone tinged with urgency: "Father, the runes on this fragment are related to the spirit offering ritual. I need time to decipher its mysteries before I can find the true solution. Please allow me to continue my investigation."

The emperor looked at her with complicated emotions, seemingly hesitant. Seeing this, Consort Yan quickly spoke up: "Your Majesty, I believe this matter is of utmost importance. If we are not careful, it could lead to a great disaster. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."

The Emperor rubbed his temples, his voice low: "This matter will be discussed later. Princess, you shall return to the palace for now and keep the fragments safe. Do not act on them without permission."

Xiao Jinlian bowed her head and replied, "Yes, Father."

After leaving the court, Xiao Jinlian remained silent until she returned to her palace, where she finally showed signs of exhaustion.

Li Heng followed behind her, his eyes filled with worry.

"Princess, what do you think of the situation in the court today?" he asked in a low voice.

Xiao Jinlian sneered: "Consort Yan is taking this opportunity to sow discord, hoping to use Father Emperor to get rid of me. However, she seems to have underestimated my determination."

Li Heng frowned deeply: "Although the Emperor has not directly punished you, he has clearly become suspicious of the fragments. Next, Consort Yan will definitely intensify her actions."

Xiao Jinlian raised her head, her eyes filled with determination: "That's precisely why I must unravel the secret of the rune fragments as soon as possible. Otherwise, once Consort Yan truly takes control of the situation, we will be powerless to fight back."

"What about the power of the curse?" Li Heng couldn't help but ask. "Today, I passed by the Land of Offering Spirits and discovered that the aura of the curse there is spreading in all directions. If it is not stopped, I'm afraid the entire Great Chu will be affected."

“That’s why we can’t back down.” Xiao Jinlian slowly got up, walked to the table, and took the rune fragments out of the brocade box.

She gently ran her fingers over the surface of the fragments, feeling a cold and piercing sensation.

"This fragment not only hides the secret of sealing the curse, but may also be our only hope," she said in a low voice, a cold glint in her eyes.

Li Heng stepped forward and solemnly said, "No matter what happens next, I will face it with you."

Xiao Jinlian turned to look at him, her voice tinged with gratitude: "Thank you, Li Heng. But the road ahead may be more difficult than we imagine."

Meanwhile, strange phenomena began to appear in the villages surrounding the site of the sacrifice.

Crops in the fields withered, the river water became murky, and many villagers developed unexplained illnesses.

When the news reached the palace, Consort Yan seized the opportunity to spread rumors among the court officials, claiming that it was all because Xiao Jinlian had brought back something ominous.

In the imperial court, criticism of Xiao Jinlian gradually rose, and the emperor's attitude became increasingly indifferent.

Xiao Jinlian knew that her time was running out.

“Li Heng,” she paced back and forth in the room, her brow furrowed, “we must find more compelling evidence to prove the role of the fragments. Otherwise, not only us, but the entire Great Chu will be plunged into chaos.”

Li Heng nodded: "I will arrange for people to continue investigating the situation at the site of the offering of spirits as soon as possible. At the same time, we also need to be wary of Consort Yan's next move."

Xiao Jinlian took a deep breath, her eyes flashing with determination: "No matter what, I will not let Consort Yan succeed. I cannot lose this game."