As they were speaking, Lü Wan came to report, "Your Highness, Madam, Princess Huian requests an audience."
Why is she here?
Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo exchanged a glance. Had she heard about the Seventh Prince being dispatched to Lin Yuan?
"Invite her in!" Nan Shiying said to Lü Wan.
Ji Jinmo stood up. "I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."
Nan Shiying hummed and watched Ji Jinmo depart, feeling that something was amiss but unable to pinpoint what.
As she was thinking, Lü Wan led Princess Huian into the Xin Yuan Pavilion.
Nan Shiying composed herself and rose to greet her.
She led her to the table to sit, and Bai Zhi served fresh tea, pastries, and fruit before withdrawing.
Huian said to Baolan, "You may leave too!"
Baolan opened her mouth, glanced at Nan Shiying, and reluctantly retreated.
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow in surprise, picked up the teapot, and poured her a cup of tea, then poured one for herself, not asking any questions.
Huian picked up the teacup and took a sip. The aroma of the tea filled the air, flowing between her lips and teeth, leaving a sweet aftertaste. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Good tea!"
Nan Shiying smiled noncommittally.
After drinking half a cup of tea, Princess Huian put down the teacup and looked up at Nan Shiying. "Your Highness, have you heard that my father has dispatched the Seventh Prince to Lin Yuan?"
The Seventh Prince?
Nan Shiying considered her choice of words before nodding. "I have."
Huian was silent for a few seconds, then, as if having made a decision, she spoke with some difficulty. "Your Highness, have you ever heard of soul possession and rebirth?"
Nan Shiying felt as if struck by lightning. In an instant, she felt a rush of panic and fear, as if her skin had been torn open and her soul laid bare. The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, her pupils contracting rapidly before quickly returning to normal.
She concealed all her emotions and forced a stiff smile. "Soul possession and rebirth? Princess, are you jesting with me?"
Huian, lost in her own thoughts, did not notice the shift in Nan Shiying's emotions. Her expression was somewhat somber, as if shrouded in mist and rain. She knew her idea was rather absurd, but she could find no other explanation for Yu Chengxuan's transformation.
"I am not joking," Princess Huian said with a serious tone.
"That was ten years ago..."
Ten years ago, the twelve-year-old Yu Chengxuan was pushed into the imperial garden's koi pond. When he was pulled out, he had no breath, and even the imperial physicians were helpless. Yet, after he was declared dead, he miraculously came back to life.
From that point on, he became different.
The former Yu Chengxuan, while not entirely ignorant, was merely a mediocre individual among the princes, of average talent and not much use. But after his miraculous recovery, he was a changed man.
It was a transformation from the inside out.
"The historical records of Da Li have documented similar events. Centuries ago, Da Yuan..."
"Wait, Da Yuan?"
Was it the Da Yuan she was thinking of?
Princess Huian looked at Nan Shiying with some surprise and said, "It was Da Yuan. According to historical records, the dynasty before Da Li was Bei Ji. Bei Ji overthrew the rule of Da Yuan and established the Bei Ji Dynasty. Later, the Bei Ji Dynasty was jointly ended by Da Li and Lin Yuan... None of this is important. What is important is the legendary Empress Nan Fengluan recorded in the history books."
Da Yuan!
Nan Shiying's feelings were complex. She had personally heard news of Da Yuan's demise. Da Yuan, which had prospered under her, had actually been ended by those barbarians from Bei Ji.
Useless, damned useless!
She had always known that a dynasty, no matter how prosperous, would eventually decline. But she didn't care who it lost to, why did it have to be Bei Ji?
In her anger, Nan Shiying crushed the teacup in her hand.
Only when the tea seeped onto her skin did Nan Shiying realize what she had done. She lowered her eyes, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the tea from her hands, then dried the spilled water on the table, ignoring the shattered teacup.
Princess Huian's voice faltered slightly. "Your Highness?"
She did not understand what Nan Shiying was so agitated about.
Nan Shiying waved her hand. "I was just thinking about something. It's nothing important. Please continue."
Princess Huian suppressed her doubts and continued, "The life of Empress Nan Fengluan of Da Yuan was legendary, and that legend began after she returned to Da Yuan from Lin'an at the age of fifteen. She..."
"The historical records conclude that Empress Nan Fengluan was suspected to be an immortal descending to the mortal world."
Nan Shiying: "..."
It was fine up until then, but why did it suddenly turn fantastical?
No, she? An immortal descending?
If Yue Sinan saw these historical records, he would be so enraged that his coffin lid would tremble!
"So? You think Nan Fengluan was someone who possessed another's body and reborn?" Nan Shiying twitched her lips, reluctant to dwell on the absurdity of it all.
Princess Huian nodded. "Nan Fengluan was not as monstrously talented from the very beginning. It was only after her return from Lin'an. I believe Nan Fengluan could not have been from this era."
Nan Shiying: "..."
If she weren't the one involved, she would almost believe it!
Back then... Nan Shiying thought to herself, she hadn't acted out before simply because she had no interest in the throne. It was only when she was pushed too far that she embarked on the bone-strewn path of the struggle for succession.
What immortal descending, what soul possession and rebirth, were all nonsense.
It would be more accurate to say it applied to this life.
However, hearing someone speculate like this, Nan Shiying couldn't help but feel a sense of wry amusement, a peculiar feeling of standing in the torrent of history and laughing at everyone.
She was silent for two seconds, abandoning any thought of explanation or refutation. This sort of thing was impossible to explain.
"So, what are you trying to say?" Nan Shiying thought. Regardless of whether Yu Chengxuan was a soul possessed and reborn, she wouldn't bring this up at this moment just because she suddenly thought of it, would she?
Princess Huian was silent for a few seconds, then smiled. "I just want to remind Your Highness that Yu Chengxuan is different from ordinary people. This time, he is representing Da Li to Lin Yuan, and I fear... he comes with ill intentions."
Nan Shiying suddenly smiled, feeling a flicker of curiosity towards Yu Chengxuan. What kind of person was he to inspire such caution?
A deliberate reminder?
Was it to warn her to be wary of Yu Chengxuan, or was it because she feared the Prince Regent's estate might reach some agreement with Yu Chengxuan?
"Then I thank the Princess for her reminder."