"Can't see?" Tantai Jin was remarkably calm upon hearing this news.
The maid, terrified he might blame Su Su's blindness on her, trembled as she asked, "Your Majesty, should we summon a physician to treat the young lady?"
The dark-robed young man curled his lips in a sarcastic smile.
"As long as she keeps breathing, what concern are her eyes to me?"
Understanding his meaning, the maid breathed a deep sigh of relief.
The lingering July rainy season hadn't yet passed when Yang Ji entered and saw His Majesty tending to a potted flower. The blossom hadn't fully opened yet, bearing only a small bud of icy blue that resembled beautiful ice crystals.
Finding it rare, Yang Ji took a few extra glances.
Tantai Jin said indifferently, "The longevity flower sent by Shenba. Legend says it cures all ailments and relieves all pain."
The young man's cold fingers brushed past the longevity flower, the beautiful blossom emitting a refreshing fragrance.
"What does Shenba want in exchange for such a treasure?"
Tantai Jin revealed a mocking smile. "The position of queen in my Zhou Kingdom."
Last month, Tantai Jin had changed the nation's name to "Jinghe." The once most powerful Xia Kingdom had become a vassal of Zhou. As the new ruler, Tantai Jin was someone worth befriending for all nations.
Shenba had always been tactful. Before Tantai Jin could send troops against them, they took the initiative to send generous gifts, hoping Tantai Jin would marry their princess.
For emperors, marriage alliances were also a means of maintaining balance.
Studying Tantai Jin's expression, Yang Ji cautiously asked, "Your Majesty's intention..."
Tantai Jin fiddled with the flower for a long time before saying, "Keep the flower, reject the person. Select a return gift to send them on my behalf."
Yang Ji glanced at him and nodded in acknowledgment.
Su Su spent several more days in the chaotic secret chamber. The maid attending to her regained her previous arrogance.
Tantai Jin neither allowed her to leave nor summoned physicians to treat her.
Having anticipated this outcome, Su Su lowered her head.
She had endured the pain to reset her dislocated fingers herself, but her increasingly emaciated body grew weaker by the day.
She tried hard to swallow more food, only to find it futile.
One night, she coughed up blood.
Su Su knew the divine power of the World-Toppling Flower was beginning to fade, and its misfortune was about to arrive.
And she had lost her bet.
Tantai Jin had said so many times that he wanted her dead, but this time, he truly meant to take her life.
She drifted in and out of consciousness until the next day when the maid shoved her harshly. Finding Su Su completely unresponsive with blood staining her mouth, the maid finally realized the severity of the situation.
The incident of coughing blood finally allowed Su Su to leave the chaotic secret chamber.
Someone examined her pulse, murmuring indistinctly.
"This young lady's body is weak, but I cannot identify any specific ailment. As for her eyes, I'm afraid staying in darkness for too long has caused temporary blindness."
From another direction, someone remained silent for a long time.
Su Su heard a soft, derisive laugh.
"Since she enjoys playing games so much, I shall indulge her. If she wants out, let her stay here."
A warm energy flowed into her wrist. By evening, Su Su finally regained consciousness.
The curved jade looked at its young mistress' emaciated body in disbelief, weeping bitterly.
This was only the second time it had cried so sorrowfully since gaining consciousness. The previous occasion was when Su Su's mother passed away.
The curved jade poured all the Spiritual Energy it had cultivated over more than a year in the human world into Su Su's body, finally bringing her some relief.
Gasping for breath, Su Su's vision remained completely dark, yet she knew it was daytime.She had completely lost her sight.
The curved jade noticed Su Su's dim expression.
After a long silence, it made up its mind and whispered, "Let me take you home."
—Back to Hengyang Sect five hundred years later, to Changze Mountain where you were born. There would be no more of this current suffering.
Your eyes could regain their sight, you could become a Fairy again, free from any hardship.
The young girl stumbled out of bed, her lips chapped and dry. There was no one around, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
The curved jade quickly said, "Turn left, be careful. Yes, walk forward. Can you feel the table?"
Su Su felt for the teacup on the table and poured herself half a cup of water to drink.
The curved jade saw her fingers swollen and red, completely unlike their former slender, fair, and delicate appearance. It couldn't bear to look any longer.
Su Su spoke hoarsely, "If I go back, what will happen to Father, my martial uncles, Senior Brother Gongye, and all my fellow disciples?"
Everyone would die.
Just like in the nightmares created by the nightmare demon, they would perish one by one.
The eight elders had exhausted their cultivation to send her back five hundred years. If she fled back to Hengyang Sect now, there would be no second chance.
The curved jade remained silent.
It was the Nine Heavens Jade, born in ancient times, yet it couldn't compare to other Divine Artifacts from the same era that could command the wind and rain. It was an ancient piece of jade buried underground for countless years, slowly developing spiritual awareness before taking on its current form.
It didn't know how many years it had cultivated. Originally, it should have been one with the mountains and rivers of the Three Realms. More than its pity for Su Su, it felt a sense of mission toward all living beings.
Assisting its host to eliminate the Demon God and protecting the people—that was the meaning of its existence.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, it finally resolved, "The Soul Extinguishing Nails are shattered. The mission has failed. I'll take you away!"
The jade bracelet on her wrist glowed brightly, but Su Su suddenly pressed down on it.
"Little master?"
Su Su said, "Wait a little longer. I... have one last method."
"What?" The curved jade stared at her in surprise. On the girl's pale face, a faint smile appeared, like a flower adorned with morning dew.
A fragile beauty blooming before death.
Xiaohui said cheerfully, "Madam, you wouldn't believe it—that woman has been thrown into the cold palace by His Majesty. I heard that in summer, the place is infested with snakes, insects, rats, and ants, and the food is spoiled. This time, His Majesty has completely abandoned her!"
Ye Bingshang set down the nearly finished garment and lifted her beautiful eyes. "Watch your words."
Xiaohui quickly patted her own mouth. "Look at this servant's mouth! No matter how many times Madam teaches me, I never learn. This time, Madam must not show sisterly compassion and pity her!"
Ye Bingshang nodded. "Of course not. Third Sister tried to harm His Majesty. Sparing her life is already an act of mercy."
"This servant also heard that her eyes have gone blind."
Ye Bingshang paused in her movements. "Is that so?"
In the afternoon, she went to deliver the finished garment to Tantai Jin and happened to encounter the imperial physician examining him.
The elegant fragrance in the room drew Ye Bingshang's attention to the Everlasting Flower.
The Everlasting Flower was about to bloom, radiating a unique beauty under the sunlight.
Tantai Jin kept it casually, with no intention of consuming it. Everyone in the palace knew the Emperor possessed such a flower and speculated about whom he would give it to.
Ye Bingshang suddenly thought of Third Sister's blind eyes.
If it were the Everlasting Flower, Third Sister's body would surely recover...
Tantai Jin noticed her and said indifferently, "Come, sit."As usual, the two played a game of chess. Ye Bingshang said somewhat shyly, "In a few days, it will be your humble servant's birthday. May I boldly request something from Your Majesty?"
This was the first time she had made a request to Tantai Jin since coming to the Zhou Kingdom.
Thinking of the shattered heart protecting scale, Tantai Jin nodded. "Speak."
Ye Bingshang said, "I hope Your Majesty can accompany me and my mother for a meal."
After speaking, she twisted her handkerchief tightly, watching Tantai Jin anxiously.
Tantai Jin said, "Agreed."
Ye Bingshang smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
As Ye Bingshang was the only woman in the harem with an official title, the palace maids naturally prepared meticulously for her birthday.
Su Su no longer had any maids by her side. The cold palace contained only a hard bed and a table with a teapot.
It was several days after she woke up that she realized she could no longer use any Spiritual Power.
Now she was no different from an ordinary mortal.
The curved jade told her that countless Ruoshui arrows were still secretly aimed at her. If she tried to escape the Zhou Kingdom's palace, those arrows would be fired without hesitation.
Unfortunately, they didn't know that Su Su had already lost the ability to resist.
Every evening, she would grope her way out for a walk.
When she couldn't see, she would have the curved jade guide her.
As long as she remained within the cold palace grounds, the Night Shadow Guard wouldn't stop her.
A few young palace maids returning from washing clothes said, "Why has the palace become lively again these past few days? Is there some celebration?"
"Of course! In a few days, it's Lady Zhaohua's birthday. His Majesty dotes exclusively on her now, so he naturally values her birthday celebration."
"Haven't you heard? Previously, Shicha offered the Longevity Flower, hoping His Majesty would marry their princess, but His Majesty flatly refused. Who else would it be for if not Lady Zhaohua? If not for Lady Zhaohua's status, His Majesty would have probably made her empress long ago."
They chatted as they walked away. Su Su stood behind the wall, feeling the evening's chill.
The wind brushed against her tea-colored clothes. The curved jade said hesitantly, "Little master, did you hear? Tantai Jin has the Longevity Flower. That's a sacred medicine for mortals. Perhaps you should try to ask for it. Your eyes... you might be able to see again."
Su Su touched her left eye.
After a long while, she nodded. "I... want to try."
She was afraid.
This was the first time the curved jade had seen her agree to ask for something.
The curved jade felt a pang of sorrow. The little spirit bird was born yearning for freedom, raised in the vastest and most beautiful places.
The chaotic secret chamber had no sound, no light. She had been imprisoned for too long, and now she would sometimes wake up trembling in her sleep at night.
Yet day and night made no difference to Su Su - her world was already completely dark.
Now, for the Longevity Flower, she wanted to try.
She didn't want Tantai Jin's life anymore; she would repay him with something better. She was too afraid, wanting only to see more of this world even if she were to die eventually, not wanting to die alone in the darkness.
The day before Ye Bingshang's birthday happened to be the fifteenth day of the month, two months later.
The moon hung in the sky, illuminating the desolate cold palace.
Su Su curled up on the bed, trembling slightly.
The Spring Silkworm Curse on her body had activated.
Su Su hadn't expected that after losing her virginity, the Spring Silkworm Curse's activation period would shorten. Now, after only two months, the curse had struck again.
She hugged herself tightly, sweat dampening her forehead.
Her mind was in chaos. She didn't know how long she had endured - perhaps an hour, perhaps longer.Just as she thought she would die, the summer night breeze drifted in through the door.
The warm air cleared her mind for a moment, and she blinked her vacant eyes.
Someone used cold fingers to part her collar, and for the first time, Su Su realized how potent the Spring Silkworm Curse was for a mortal body.
Trembling, she drew closer to him. When she leaned into his embrace, the restless agitation of the drug within her finally settled for a brief moment.
He observed Su Su with a cold gaze.
The young girl breathed rapidly, clearly in agony.
Tantai Jin did not kiss her, treating it as a task—merely to prevent her from dying too easily. He remained utterly detached and cold, as if his disdain for her ran deep in his bones.
He sneered, "You look truly unattractive now, utterly unappealing."
Su Su pressed her lips together. She had grown thin over time; her once slightly chubby cheeks were now sharply defined.
Her waist, already slender, had become so thin it seemed it could be encircled with one hand.
Under the influence of the drug, Su Su’s body did not feel discomfort; instead, it developed a sense of dependence. Yet her heart ached terribly. Of the eight sufferings in life, she was gradually tasting this particular bitterness.
She didn’t even have the strength to hate him, feeling only exhaustion.
Like a traveler who had endured too many grievances on the road, her sensitivity to hardships along the way faded, leaving only a longing for home.
Unable to see her current self, Su Su assumed she looked as unattractive as he claimed.
She cared little for appearances and was unaware that this rare, fragile beauty made her all the more captivating in a way that invited a desire to cruelly mistreat her.
Her clear, black-and-white eyes reflected his image. Tantai Jin knew she couldn’t see her own expression now.
He lowered himself, still concealing his emotions. Claiming to have no interest, yet he tormented her for most of the night.
As he dressed to leave, a pale, small hand tugged at him.
Tantai Jin turned and, for the first time, saw a look of anxious anticipation on her face.
After hesitating for a long while, Su Su finally whispered, "Can I... exchange with you... for the Flower of Eternal Life?"
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