295: Princess Project

[After listening to Princess Huangfu Yu's words, you understood.]

[It was no wonder she never trusted Cao Qingyi.]

[Seeing you hesitate, she smiled and said, "You'd better think it through. If you are unwilling, I will choose someone else."]

[She paused, her tone calm: "And you... will disappear from this world."]

["Why choose me?" you asked.]

[Princess Huangfu Yu had a smile on her face: "There are only two possibilities for your identity."]

["First, you are loyal to Cao Qingyi and would absolutely never betray her."]

["Second, you were indeed bought off by someone and are pretending to get close to Cao Qingyi with another purpose."]

[You asked curiously, "What does that have to do with the condition you just mentioned?"]

[Princess Huangfu Yu smiled and said, "I want to see which one you are."]

["How can you tell?" you asked curiously.]

["Through my observations these past few days, I've discovered a problem with you," Princess Huangfu Yu smiled.]

[You looked at her curiously.]

[She looked at you with a smile: "In front of me and Cao Qingyi, you show no reverence or fear whatsoever."]

["You should know, truly fearing someone doesn't look like what you do."]

["Every time, you dare to look her and me straight in the eye, and your gaze even carries a hint of... the composure and disdain of a superior."]

["That kind of gaze... I have only ever seen it on my Father Emperor. It cannot be faked."]

[She paused and smiled, "And yet you just said... you only feel reverence for her and have no such intentions."]

["This shows you were lying; you are not truly loyal to her."]

["Since you aren't truly loyal to her, you naturally won't die for her."]

["If I use certain means to let you have her, she will certainly kill you."]

["At that time, the only person you can rely on will be me."]

[After she finished speaking, she looked at you with a smile.]

[You immediately understood Princess Huangfu Yu's true intention—she only wanted to confirm whether a Soul Transformation Cultivator had truly intercepted you back then.]

[Otherwise, why was it that only you and Cao Qingyi survived?]

[This was indeed very suspicious.]

[If a Soul Transformation Cultivator had truly acted, why didn't they kill you to silence you?]

[After all, the Cao Family has no Soul Transformation Cultivator to protect them.]

[If a Soul Transformation Cultivator was involved in this matter, then the truth behind it is definitely not simple.]

[This also meant that what Cao Qingyi said was likely mostly true.]

[It turned out that for the past few days, Princess Huangfu Yu had purely been observing you.]

[She only needed to confirm you weren't truly loyal to Cao Qingyi, then use this method to drive a wedge between you and Cao Qingyi.]

[Afterward, Cao Qingyi would surely develop a murderous intent toward you.]

[At that point, what you say would become credible.]

[Then, the credibility of what Cao Qingyi previously stated would naturally increase as well.]

[After all, if what Cao Qingyi said was false and you weren't her confidant, how could you have possibly survived back then?]

[You thought of another thing—could it be that Cao Qingyi didn't kill you because she was also worried about not having a 'witness'?]

[If that's true, then you've been inexplicably caught in the schemes of two women.]

[If you were truly just a minor Golden Core Cultivator, you probably wouldn't have a good end.]

[Unfortunately, they both miscalculated.]

[You narrowed your eyes at Princess Huangfu Yu, quickly weighing your options in your mind.]

[If you refused her now, you would surely expose your strength—and you didn't want to expose your strength at this moment and become a target for everyone during the ruins expedition.]

[At that time, who knows where the Old Ancestors of the Three Great Factions might be hiding, waiting to play the 'lurker'.]

[If you agreed to her, perhaps you wouldn't have to expose your strength after all.]

[However, this meant you would have to sacrifice your charms.]

[In fact, you felt a bit of anticipation and nervousness—you hadn't experienced this kind of play before.]

[Without hesitation, you nodded and replied, "Fine, I agree."]

[Princess Huangfu Yu smiled with satisfaction: "A wise choice. Wait for my arrangements tonight."]

[You didn't nod, but remained silent as a form of tacit agreement—for this kind of thing, you wanted to feign a bit of reserve.]

[Night soon arrived.]

[In the courtyard pavilion, there were only you, Princess Huangfu Yu, and Cao Qingyi.]

[These past few days, Princess Huangfu Yu had often invited Cao Qingyi for tea and conversation, so Cao Qingyi was already used to it and didn't suspect anything.]

[Standing quietly to the side, you gradually began to realize—it seemed Princess Huangfu Yu had this plan in mind from the very beginning.]

[Her previous invitations were merely to make Cao Qingyi let down her guard.]

[Such calculation... she truly was a ruthless character from the Imperial Dynasty's royal family.]

[Of those who can secure a foothold in such a place, which one isn't a king who fought their way out of overt and covert power struggles?]

[Could it be that her taking the 'Ageless Pill' as a child was also intentional? Just to make others feel she was innocent and harmless?]

[If that were true, then this little girl's mind was terrifyingly deep.]

[If only a bit of that cleverness could be shared with you.]

[You watched Cao Qingyi pick up the teacup, her lips lightly touching the rim, and a trace of inexplicable anticipation rose in your heart.]

[A moment later, she had already drunk two or three cups.]

[She shook her head, her eyes gradually becoming blurred.]

[Her breathing unconsciously became rapid, a flush rose on her cheeks, her fingertips unintentionally gripped her sleeves, and her body began to go slightly limp.]

[Princess Huangfu Yu looked up at you with a faint smile: "It's getting late. Xiao Chen, help her go rest."]

[You nodded, stepped forward to support Cao Qingyi, and led her toward the wing room.]

[Cao Qingyi seemed to sense something was wrong. Although she was drugged, she hadn't completely lost her senses yet. She panted and struggled: "Your Highness... you... what did you... give me to drink?"]

[She raised her hand to push you away, but her palm was soft and powerless, landing on your arm as light as a leaf.]

[Princess Huangfu Yu chuckled in the pavilion: "Xiao Chen, why are you still dawdling? I will act as your Protector here. Hurry up."]

["What kind of medicine is this? The effect is so strong?" you asked curiously.]

["Spring Mist Powder. It's colorless and odorless; no one below Soul Transformation can resist it." Her smile deepened. "Those struck by this powder will have their whole body go weak, their mind become muddled, and their cultivation temporarily sealed. So you can rest assured, she cannot harm you."]

["Spring Mist Powder... Spring Mist Powder..." you repeated in a low voice, half-supporting and half-embracing Cao Qingyi as you brought her into the wing room.]

[Seeing this, Princess Huangfu Yu waved her sleeve, and the room door closed silently. She sat alone in the pavilion, the smile on her lips lingering, but her eyes held a calm coldness.]

[Inside the wing room, you were already unconsciously entangled with Cao Qingyi on the bed.]

[Her body was burning hot, her breath ragged. You were like two lumps of soft dough kneaded together, indistinguishable from one another.]

[Until three hours later—]

[Thud!]

[With a dull thud, Cao Qingyi unconsciously leaked a wisp of Nascent Soul aura, and the bed beneath you shattered at the sound.]

[Immediately following—]

[Boom!]

[The entire wing room collapsed under the vibration of that aura.]

[As the medicinal power of the Spring Mist Powder gradually faded, her Nascent Soul pressure grew stronger and stronger, and her cultivation was rapidly recovering.]

[You were secretly alarmed. If you were truly just a Golden Core Cultivator, that burst of aura just now would have probably shattered your Meridians.]

[At this moment, Cao Qingyi was clearly awake, her cultivation restored.]

[Her eyes burned with cold fury as she stared fixedly at you.]

[You met her gaze, and your body couldn't help but tremble.]

[She felt your trembling, and her cheeks turned bright red.]