50: Princess as slave

Before Ye Hongfu even reached Emperor Mountain, Qin Wushang had already descended.

As he stepped onto the final stone steps of Emperor Mountain, a slender figure rushed out from the side, blocking his path and bringing with her a waft of fragrance.

It was Chu Yuer!

At this moment, she was a completely different person from the bright and arrogant Princess of the Tianwu Royal Estate she usually was.

Her face was pale, her eyes held a hint of barely concealed panic and exhaustion, and even her dress appeared somewhat wrinkled!

It seemed she had been waiting here for several days!

"Senior Brother Qin!"

Seeing Qin Wushang descend, her voice held an almost imperceptible tremor, and her hands were nervously clasped in front of her.

"Back then... back then, Yu'er was blinded by lard... ah, no, Yu'er's heart was blinded by lard, and in a moment of arrogance, I offended Senior Brother...!"

"All the mistakes are Yu'er's fault. I beg Senior Brother Qin, in your great magnanimity, to forgive Yu'er this one time!"

Chu Yuer spoke the words she had rehearsed countless times in her mind, yet they still came out jumbled.

After she finished speaking, regardless of whether Qin Wushang had heard her, she bowed deeply, performing a grand salute!

A ninety-degree bow was offered, her hair sliding from her shoulders, subtly revealing a hint of milky white at her chest, which rose and fell dramatically due to her panic.

"I implore Senior Brother Qin to forgive Yu'er!"

Qin Wushang did not stop, walking directly past her, leaving only a scornful sneer.

"Forgive?"

His tone was lazy, carrying undisguised mockery.

"What wrong has Your Highness, the Princess, committed? That day, beneath this Emperor Mountain, how majestic she was, This true disciple remembers it vividly."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuer's face turned ashen.

She quickly turned and rushed forward, jogging to block him again, her eyes instantly reddening.

"Senior Brother Qin! I... I was just anxious at the time, wanting to retrieve my father's Cultivation Technique, which is why I spoke so carelessly!"

"Yu'er is foolish, Yu'er doesn't know her place! Yu'er apologizes to you here!"

Her voice was already tinged with a sob, making her appear pitiful.

"I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!"

She lowered herself extremely.

The New Year was approaching, and her King Father would return to the capital soon. If he were to discover the ancient Jade Slip was lost... not only would her position as Princess be implicated, but even her full-blooded younger brother would likely suffer, and his position as heir would be in jeopardy... At that time, she would have nothing, be nothing!

Who said the competition within the Tianwu Royal Estate wasn't fierce!

One wrong step could lead to an abyss!

"Oh?"

Qin Wushang finally stopped, looking at Chu Yuer with interest, and smiled indifferently.

"For a dignified Princess to be so humble is truly a rare sight."

As he spoke, he unhurriedly took out the ancient Jade Slip, casually toying with it between his fingers.

"Something abnormal must be evil. For Your Highness to lower herself so, I presume... it's for this, isn't it?"

Chu Yuer's gaze was fixed on the Jade Slip, her breathing quickening slightly.

"Yes! Senior Brother Qin is discerning! That Jade Slip... is extremely important to my father, and cannot be lost."

"Since Senior Brother won it from Qingfeng, Yu'er wouldn't dare to ask for it for free, and is willing to pay any price!"

"I only ask that Senior Brother return it to me. Whatever the conditions, as long as Yu'er can achieve it, I will not hesitate!"

"Any conditions?"

Qin Wushang seemed to have heard an amusing joke.

He scrutinized Chu Yuer from head to toe, his gaze disdainful, as if evaluating an item of merchandise.

"Chu Yuer, you overestimate yourself."

He said, his tone suddenly turning cold.

"With my current status, what do you think you could offer that would tempt me?"

"Can your royal estate's treasures compare to the blessings of the Heavenly Dao? Or can you, as a person, compare to even a fraction of my Revered Master?"

With that, Qin Wushang no longer looked at her and stepped forward, intending to leave.

"Wait! Senior Brother Qin! I beg you! Let's discuss it again! Everything is negotiable!"

Chu Yuer no longer cared for her demeanor, practically pouncing forward and grabbing his sleeve.

"Discuss?"

Qin Wushang turned back, his gaze falling on her flushed cheeks, which were red from urgency, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"This true disciple happens to be in need of a maidservant to serve tea, pour water, and massage my shoulders and legs."

"Seeing that your appearance is acceptable, if you are willing to sign a Soul Contract and sell yourself into servitude, serving This true disciple for a hundred years, then I can bestow this Jade Slip upon you."

"You!!!"

Upon hearing his words, Chu Yuer's face drastically changed. She abruptly took a step back, finding it hard to accept.

"Impossible! I am a Princess of the Tianwu Royal Estate, how could I... how could I be a slave!"

She thought she had been humble enough, and that retrieving the Jade Slip wouldn't be difficult.

She even expected Qin Wushang's conditions to be some kind of treasure.

She never imagined it would be like this!

"Heh,"

Qin Wushang sneered, his eyes growing even more disdainful.

"Since Your Highness is so noble, then there's nothing more for us to discuss."

He turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, she thought of her King Father's thunderous rage upon his return to the capital, and the potential implications for her mother... A battle raged in her mind: on one side was her dignity as a Princess, and on the other, the status of her mother and brother!

"My King Father is already dissatisfied with my mother. If my brother did such a foolish thing, he would definitely use it as an excuse to elevate that wretched woman. No! Absolutely not!"

Chu Yuer thought, biting her lip tightly.

"...Alright."

She caught up to Qin Wushang, saying with extreme humility, "If I can get the Jade Slip back, I can agree to your terms!"

Qin Wushang paused, turning his head to look at her.

"I... I agree to you."

"To be Senior Brother Qin's slave for a hundred years! I only ask, Senior Brother Qin, to return the original Jade Slip!"

Qin Wushang looked at her, his smile widening.

"Your Highness, words alone are not enough."

"Make a Great Dao Oath! With your Dao Heart as the guide, and the Luck of the Tianwu Royal Estate as the catalyst."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuer's face changed slightly again.

If she made a Great Dao Oath, she would have no chance to go back on her word.

But as soon as she thought of her mother, and her brother, and those who were eyeing their positions, she still tremblingly raised her right hand, pointing two fingers towards the sky.

"Heaven above, sun and moon as witness..."

"I, Chu Yuer, hereby swear that if Qin Wushang returns the ancient Jade Slip, I will serve him as a maidservant for a hundred years. If I violate this oath, the entire Tianwu Royal Estate of Great Chu shall perish!"

As the oath was uttered, an invisible Great Dao imprint slowly formed, settling into her glabella, binding itself to both their Divine Souls.

"Your Highness, a maidservant must also sleep with her Revered Master! Come! Let This true disciple help you weigh yourself, to see if you're too thin to bear children!"