Chu Yu sat down upon hearing this, and Yun Jinnian began to speak seriously, "I have read from this book that Nanjiang has always been unstable. It is said that led by the Saintess, there are two factions, one is the secular faction and the other is the defending faction. Those from the secular faction must be people with great ambitions, not only seeking Silver but also power. The poison that you and Prince Yanjun suffered probably has something to do with them. Of course, the defending faction might also be supporting them secretly!"
"What if we find a way to make these two factions completely at odds with each other?" Chu Yu asked.
"That’s a good plan, to sow discord among them and then send troops to quell the disturbances. That way, we should be able to completely reclaim Nanjiang!" Yun Jinnian paused after saying this. These matters were considered state affairs, and it wasn’t appropriate for her, a girl, to intervene too much. She continued, "It is said that every five years on the tenth day of the ninth month, a new Saintess is selected, and this year happens to mark the end of the five-year period. If the Saintess were one of our own..."
Chu Yu pondered for a moment, "If we could bribe someone from the secular faction, and they were willing to give up the method for raising Poisonous Insects and the solution for continuous detoxification, Jinnian, would you learn it?"
Yun Jinnian responded without hesitation.
Whether raising or dispelling the Poisonous Insects, as long as it can save people, that’s what matters.
"That person should be arriving soon. But you must be careful when dealing with him and always have someone by your side!"
Chu Yu trusted that person in other matters, but when it came to Yun Jinnian’s safety, he had to be cautious.
Yun Jinnian nodded. Seeing Hemei bring in some tea, Yun Jinnian poured a cup for Chu Yu before asking, "How is that woman doing?"
"She’s safe now; everything in the letter was true."
Yun Jinnian fell silent, looking at the book in her hands. After a while, she said, "This world is always harsher on women."
That simple statement seemed to carry the weight of countless hardships, causing Chu Yu’s heart to inexplicably ache.
"Jinnian, I won’t..."
Yun Jinnian looked at Chu Yu indifferently, and he immediately fell silent.
Suddenly, he remembered a few lines, which went something like: ’Light promises are always empty, and vows made on mountains and seas are never true. If there is true love, how can one recklessly promise a lifetime commitment!’
A smart girl like Yun Jinnian would be less likely to believe in mere words; it was better to prove it with actions.
"What won’t you do?" Yun Jinnian asked.
"Nothing, it’s so late, aren’t you going to rest? We still have a long journey early tomorrow!"
Yun Jinnian turned her head to look at the hourglass; indeed, it was quite late.
"I’m going to sleep now!"
Chu Yu stood up, "Then I’m leaving!"
Yun Jinnian got up to see Chu Yu out. Watching his tall figure fade into the dim moonlight, just like that segment of memory, was hazy and unclear.
Nor could she fathom her own heart.
Yun Jinnian lowered her gaze.
No, she was not a coward; she just wanted to find a way where everyone could win. But how could there be such a perfect solution in this world, without disappointing anyone!
She turned back into her room and had Hemei and Henuan tidy up.
Taking out the pouch from around her neck, she opened it to get the bead and gently wiped it with a handkerchief.
Every time she faced this bead, her heart softened, and she didn’t want to do anything else; just holding it was enough.
"Heh!" Yun Jinnian chuckled softly, shaking her head helplessly.
She put the bead back in the pouch, hung it around her neck, and lay down to sleep.
After letting go of some matters, Yun Jinnian managed to sleep quite peacefully. Hemei watched by the bedside for a while, and after seeing Yun Jinnian fall into a deep sleep, she drew the bed curtains and went to sleep on the adjacent Arhat bed.
"Not good, not good, water is leaking, water is leaking!"
A sharp alarm jolted Yun Jinnian awake, who quickly called out, "Hemei, Henuan?"
"Quickly go check what’s going on! And see how Tianci is doing!"
Hemei and Henuan hurriedly went to check.
Yun Jinnian also quickly got out of bed to put on her shoes and clothes. Upon getting ready to leave the room, she was knocked unconscious by someone...