"Hihihi… This is very intriguing indeed."
A long black-haired man with a paper fan smiled creepily as he quietly walked away. He had just eavesdropped on JianZi's new orders to his shadow guards. That man was Sheng, the first to know every identity of the Returners. Chaos was his playground, but don't mistake him for a villain—he never actually harmed anyone, he just loved watching the drama unfold.
"Tell Cai Xiao to track Xi Youran. I will personally reach for her once we have her location," JianZi commanded. His voice was calm, but inside, worry clawed at him. Xi Youran had disappeared suddenly, and though curiosity burned, his concern for her safety outweighed everything else.
Meanwhile, in a secluded cabin far from the palace:
"Achoo! WHO THE HELL IS CURSING ME?!"
Xi Youran stormed around, sneezing like a storm. Her frustration had grown over the past few weeks. Three weeks since her first successful low-grade potion, she had been diligently training. Her Qi had stabilized to Dou Sheng rank, and thanks to the grind, she was now a 5th-ranked alchemist.
But breaking through further in such a short time? Impossible.
Back at the Jiang mansion, the court was buzzing with new developments.
A Yuan Kingdom envoy had unexpectedly arrived—an event that was supposed to occur a year later. TianZi, oblivious as ever, was focused solely on rewriting his past mistakes, completely unaware of the political consequences his actions were stirring.
JianZi narrowed his eyes, sensing something strange. "This… feels planned. By the same person… but why TianZi?"
Without noticing, JianZi's Qi flared, an almost invisible storm of energy escaping his body.
"Prince JianZi! Kindly retract your Qi… your eunuch is dying outside!"
Sheng appeared out of nowhere, casually humming behind his fan. Even under JianZi's Dou Huang-level Qi, Sheng remained completely unbothered, grinning creepily as if the very laws of cultivation didn't apply to him.
"Why are you here? I thought you were sticking close to the future emperor," JianZi said, exasperated.
Sheng only chuckled, twirling his fan. "Curiosity… chaos… amusement…"
JianZi sighed and sat down, attempting to focus. But the weight of Sheng's gaze made concentration impossible. He put down his brush, looked up, and locked eyes with the enigmatic man.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing… yet," Sheng replied with a sly smile, fading from the study like a shadow leaving behind a chill in the air.
JianZi returned to his private chamber. Maids and servants were dismissed, the doors locked. Slowly, he undid his robe, sat cross-legged, and emptied his mind. Years of cultivation had brought him close to the peak of Dou Huang, and this meditation demanded his full attention.
Meanwhile, the Yuan envoy informed the Zhang Kingdom that their nation lacked a male heir. They were willing to surrender—on one condition: their first daughter would become the next empress, regardless of who ascended the throne.
TianZi's heart sank. The girl—beautiful, elegant, captivating—was exactly the type to make Xi Youran jealous in his past life. And now, her sudden presence threatened all his careful plans.
Why is it always like this? TianZi thought, clenching his fists. She was supposed to be JianZi's bride… and now she might stand in my way.
Back in the mountain cabin, Xi Youran was buried in her Red Lotus Flame Essence Scroll, absorbed in alchemy when a voice startled her:
"Lady Xi Youran."
She looked up and froze. A shadow guard—Cai Xiao, one of JianZi's most trusted—stood before her, holding a neatly folded letter stamped with the prince's seal. The moment she touched it, he vanished into thin air with a faint shimmer of Qi.
"Woah! So awesome~ what is that technique?" Xi Youran gasped, running around in circles trying to spot him.
She finally calmed herself and unfolded the letter:
Lady Xi Youran,
It's been a while since we last met. I know this is sudden, but I want you to know I'm glad to connect with you this way. If it isn't rude, I hope you can tell me why you disappeared. I heard from your father that you are training to be worthy of Prince TianZi, but I am not convinced unless it comes from you. I hope to see your reply.
With regards, Prince Zhang JianZi
Xi Youran's jaw dropped.
Wait… what?! Training to be TianZi's perfect wife?
Her father actually told JianZi that? That was ridiculous! In her past life, maybe… but now?
And yet… JianZi had managed to find her. Not even her family knew where she had gone, and yet he tracked her down like it was nothing.
Her mind spun with questions, curiosity, and a thousand possibilities.
Then, a familiar voice nagged inside her head:
"Xi Youran… maybe you should pay attention to your stove?"
She looked down—and screamed internally. Her potion had burned. Again.
[Hiu:Serves you right, master. Focus on your craft, not daydreams!]
Xi Youran groaned. "Why must everything go wrong whenever JianZi shows up?!"