78: Chapter 78 I want to be alone!

"Thank you."

These two words were spat out from Su Xin's mouth, cold, stiff, and devoid of any gratitude.

Princess Jingping, however, revealed a smile—a smile so pure and flawless that it was enough to melt ice and snow.

"Father gave me half a month for this trip out of the capital. Imperial Sister, I want to stay with you."

The killing intent Su Xin had just restrained surfaced once again.

She frowned, looking at the Face before her—a Face that was seventy percent similar to her own, yet entirely different.

Finally, her gaze fell upon the sandalwood box containing the ninth-grade soul lotus.

"Fine." She replied coldly.

Princess Jingping's smile grew even brighter. She took the initiative to walk forward and sat down naturally at the long table beside Su Xin, as if there had never been a life-and-death struggle between them.

"Imperial Sister, do you remember? When we were little in the Imperial Garden, you loved climbing that tallest silk tree the most, always scaring the Chief Eunuch half to death."

Princess Jingping's voice was very soft, carrying a hint of nostalgia.

"You always said that by standing there, you could see the world outside the palace walls."

Su Xin did not speak, only tightening her knuckles slightly on the hilt of her sword.

"And Eunuch Li from the Imperial Kitchen Bureau, he made the best lotus seed pastries. You would always sneak over and trade your strange little gadgets for a whole plate of his pastries. And when you came back, you would always share half with me."

Princess Jingping continued speaking to herself; her memory was excellent, picking up those dusty memories one by one.

"Mother Consort always said that we sisters, one too wild and the other too quiet, didn't know which aristocratic Young Master would benefit from us in the future."

"She said she hoped we could always support each other like this for our whole lives."

Princess Jingping's voice gradually lowered.

The main cabin fell into silence.

Su Xin remained silent, but the biting cold aura surrounding her seemed to dissipate slightly.

"I want one person."

Just then, Su Xin suddenly spoke, interrupting this moment of tenderness.

Her voice returned to its usual coldness.

Princess Jingping looked up, somewhat puzzled.

"Who?"

"Chen Jinzhong," Su Xin said word by word, "A Disciple of the Longxing Sect, a traitor."

Princess Jingping used her slender fingers to gently tap her chin, making a thoughtful gesture.

A moment later, she shook her head.

"No."

Su Xin's aura became dangerous once again.

Princess Jingping, however, remained unmoved and simply explained calmly: "Imperial Sister, I am here inspecting Yanzhou in the capacity of the Imperial family. The Longxing Sect is one of the Schools guarding this trip, and Chen Jinzhong is one of the guards. If I were to hand him over to you, to the White Lotus Sect, and it got out, it would cause a massive uproar."

"The reputation of the Imperial Court and the stability of Yanzhou would both be affected."

Her words were clear and irrefutable.

Su Xin's chest heaved; she was clearly extremely displeased.

But she also knew that what Princess Jingping said was the truth. She could afford not to care, but Princess Jingping had to.

Having accepted the ninth-grade soul lotus, she still had to give some Face.

"Hmph." Su Xin snorted coldly, effectively letting Chen Fan go for the time being.

But only for the time being.

The lesson he deserved could not be skipped.

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

She looked at Princess Jingping beside her; a perfect plan had already taken shape.

It was perfect, she would be staying with this good younger sister for a while.

Wasn't this the best opportunity to punish that traitor?

Princess Jingping looked at the unpredictable expression on Su Xin's Face and suddenly smiled.

"Imperial Sister, why do you… hate that Chen Jinzhong so much?"

She asked curiously.

Su Xin glanced at her but did not answer.

Was she supposed to tell Princess Jingping that she had been betrayed by Chen Jinzhong, and was even cursed at in a brothel, being told 'that's just your nature' right on the spot?

She had even had her secret manual snatched away by that guy, and had been seen... partially undressed...

This humiliating disgrace had caused her to be unable to sleep for days.

She wished she could tear that traitor limb from limb!

...

On the deck outside the main cabin, there was a deathly silence.

Everyone was still immersed in the shock of the earth-shattering secret just revealed, their Faces ashen, trembling in fear.

The official robes of the Prefect of Yanzhou were already soaked through with cold sweat; he slumped in his chair, his lips trembling, unable to say a word.

It was over.

It was all over.

Knowing such a royal scandal, they, every single one of them, were likely in danger!

Wang Chong of the Iron Fist Sect and the Disciples of other Schools were also weak in the knees, wishing they could slap themselves a few times right then and there.

Why had they been greedy for those thirty taels of silver!

Why had they taken this death-inviting job!

In the crowd, Chen Fan's heart also sank to the bottom.

It wasn't that he was afraid of death.

He just felt that his slacker life of having a wife, kids, and a warm bed was likely about to leave him forever.

A strong sense of unease welled up from the bottom of his heart without warning.

It was a spine-chilling premonition, like being targeted by a venomous snake.

In his mind, Su Xin's bewitching and beautiful Face instantly appeared.

This crazy woman!

Just at this moment.

"Creak—"

The door to the main cabin was slowly pushed open from the inside.

Dressed in red, Su Xin was the first to walk out.

Her gaze, like a sharp sword, swept over the trembling crowd on the deck.

Finally, her gaze landed precisely on Chen Fan.

On that beautiful Face, a strange, hair-raising smile bloomed.

Chen Fan's expression remained unchanged, but his mind was racing wildly.

What was going on? Why had these two women stopped fighting? It looked like they had made up?

Eunuch Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Princess walk out safely.

In his heart, he did not want to see either side suffer any injury.

Although Su Xin was a Saintess of the rebel sect, she was even more importantly an Imperial Princess, a Princess with a title.

Although Your Majesty was still angry with Imperial Consort Su, who could say for sure when that anger would dissipate?

One had to know that back then, Imperial Consort Su was the most favored in the inner palace, even more so than the Empress.

And as the daughter of Imperial Consort Su, Su Xin naturally shared in that favor.

Her title was enough to explain everything.

Princess Linghuang!

The Phoenix is the king of all birds; it does not perch unless it is on the parasol tree.

The meaning it represented was self-evident.

If Princess Linghuang were to be injured here, then if it were investigated later, he would be the first one who could not escape.