Jiu Yue belatedly realized something.
Muling’s departure from Great Yan might not have been as simple as it seemed.
She sought out the mute maid again and carefully questioned her about the incident when she and Muling had sneaked out of the palace.
Seeing Jiu Yue’s grave expression, the maid didn’t dare to be careless and recounted everything she knew—which matched what the system had told her.
Yan Muling had learned that her father, Emperor Yan, intended to send her to the grasslands for a political marriage, to be wed to a man nearly fifty years old. The news had shattered her world.
And the Old Khan of the grasslands had specifically demanded Emperor Yan’s most beloved daughter, Princess Muling.
If Muling were truly sent there, the Old Khan would undoubtedly torment his fifteen-year-old bride—she might not even survive the first night.
But if she refused, the grasslands would likely declare war, and the southern kingdom of Tianqi might seize the opportunity to attack. Emperor Yan didn’t dare gamble on this and couldn’t think of a better solution at the time.
Yan Muling was equally devastated.
A princess marrying for the sake of her people was her duty—she understood that. But she was terrified.
In the end, Muling fled overnight—
But before she left, she met someone.
The mute maid gestured: "The princess was heartbroken. She spent the entire night polishing a dagger, and I feared she might take her own life at any moment… Later, Consort Ning came to see her, and only then did the princess calm down."
Consort Ning…
This was the second time Jiu Yue had heard that title.
“Then…” Jiu Yue pursed her lips and suddenly asked, “What about our mother?”
The maid hesitated for a moment before slowly gesturing: "The Empress passed away the year after giving birth to Princess Muling."
Jiu Yue froze.
That night, Jiu Yue meticulously reviewed the system’s compiled records on Consort Ning again.
It was a rather unremarkable rise from palace maid to consort.
From a lowly palace maid, she climbed her way up to the rank of consort, bearing a son and a daughter. In the palace, she was always well-behaved—barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would smoothly ascend to the position of Empress Dowager.
After all, she was the only one in the harem who had borne a son.
Jiu Yue fell into deep thought.
If Consort Ning had no children when the original Jiu Yue was born, it would make sense for her to target the Empress and attempt to kill her child out of jealousy.
But the Empress had died the year after giving birth to Muling. After that, Consort Ning practically ruled the harem, with both a son and a daughter of her own. Soon, her son would be named crown prince… So why would she fixate on Muling?
Just because Muling was Emperor Yan’s favorite daughter?
That didn’t quite add up.
Her instincts told her that Muling’s escape had been orchestrated by Consort Ning.
A sheltered, pampered princess and her mute maid—even if the maid knew martial arts—managing to flee all the way from the capital of Great Yan to Tianqi without anyone noticing… Wasn’t that suspicious?
Clearly, someone had been covering for them.
How very… thorough of her.
Jiu Yue thought for a moment, then said to the system, “Compile Emperor Yan and the Empress’s information for me.”
The system silently complied.
That night, Jiu Yue pored over the details but found nothing conclusive.
All the records conveyed one thing: His Majesty and the Empress were deeply devoted to each other.
For now, Jiu Yue had hit a dead end.
Only by returning to the capital could she begin unraveling the hidden truths.
The next day.
Jiu Yue and the mute maid bid farewell to the villagers. Before leaving, Jiu Yue specifically looked for Doctor Tang but couldn’t find him.
Qian Chunqiu said, “Old Tang was afraid you’d cry, so he didn’t want to see you off.”
Jiu Yue: “…”
Her lips twitched, and she turned toward Doctor Tang’s hut to stick out her tongue.
“He’s the one who’s going to cry,” Jiu Yue said cheerfully, clapping her hands. “Once I’ve settled in, I’ll come back and take all of you to the capital for a visit!”
She waved at Qian Chunqiu and the others, then, as if sensing something, turned toward a corner of the hut and waved even more vigorously.
“We’re off now,” she said, walking forward steadily.
The villagers watched as they left.
Unnoticed, Doctor Tang had sidled up next to Uncle Zhao. Clutching Uncle Zhao’s sleeve, he wiped his snot and tears.
“That brat, leaving just like that—not a shred of sentiment!” Doctor Tang sniffled. “I held her when she was a baby! Now she’s grown up, her wings are strong, and she’s forgotten all about me, wuu…”
Uncle Zhao: “…”
He patiently tugged his sleeve back, only to notice a small bundle slung over Doctor Tang’s shoulder.
Uncle Zhao blinked. “Doctor, where are you headed?”
Doctor Tang waved a hand. “Just paying a visit to a grave while my legs still work… Call it a stroll.”
The girl he’d raised like his own now knew the truth and was returning to her birth father. Even though Jiu Yue’s master was long dead, Doctor Tang, ever the loyal friend, felt obliged to go and mock him one last time.
With a flourish, he added, “This old man will be back soon. Don’t cause trouble while I’m gone—and harvest the vegetables behind my hut for me.”
…
To enter the city, they had to take backroads and slip through unnoticed. Since Jiu Yue’s injuries had healed, they left the horse and cart behind this time.
Jiu Yue and the mute maid each carried two bundles, with the dog tucked snugly into Jiu Yue’s pack, quiet and well-behaved.
Having already traversed Tigerhead Mountain, the system charted a new route.
The previous path had skirted the city, avoiding patrols—but as more people used it, the guards caught on. The end of that road was now frequently checked, making passage a gamble.
This new route, however, cut straight across Tigerhead Mountain. Descending from a different direction, they could reach the city’s opposite side.
Traveling light, with no cart or horse to slow them down, they could easily slip in as long as they stayed cautious.
They set out at noon and reached the city outskirts by nightfall.
Slipping silently inside, they found an inn and finally relaxed.
Jiu Yue went to the kitchen to brew the mute maid’s medicine.
Late as it was, the kitchen staff, drawn by the herbal scent, struck up a conversation while sweeping.
“So the young lady’s a physician,” the attendant remarked, eager for chatter.
Jiu Yue, waiting for the medicine to finish, leaned against the doorframe. “Mmm… something like that.”
Two weeks of study still counted, right?
The attendant grinned. “Didn’t expect that. With your getup, I’d have taken you for a swordswoman.”
Jiu Yue waved a modest hand. “A bit of both.”
Heh.
“You’ve got a pleasant temper—not at all like those high-and-mighty miracle doctors,” the attendant marveled.
“Lately, we’ve had quite a few physicians staying here, but none were easy to talk to. We tiptoe around them, afraid of offending… You’re headed for the capital, aren’t you?”
Jiu Yue arched a brow, eyes glinting. “That’s right.”
The attendant beamed. “Thought so. Grand Tutor Fu’s been seeking physicians for months now. All sorts come and go—some skilled, some not, all hoping for a shot…”
Jiu Yue paused, about to ask the system who this Grand Tutor Fu was, when the attendant added—
"That's a thousand taels of gold! Who could possibly refuse such an offer?"
As the words left her lips, the system's voice echoed in her mind once more: "Grand Tutor Fu, originally named Fu Tianxiao, is your maternal grandfather."
Jiu Yue: "..."
Jiu Yue stroked her chin, a slow smile spreading across her face.
"Indeed," she said meaningfully. "Who could refuse?"
