Chapter 123 Sending Paner Away

“Many years ago, there was a little girl. She was the little princess of the Kingdom of Shui. Her parents loved her and provided her with the best affection. However, when she turned nine years old, the Kingdom of Yun waged war against the Kingdom of Shui... The little princess felt as if she was a jinx. In order to protect the ones she loved from dying, she had to sacrifice herself to live with her enemies.” Shui Yinzhu then told her story, including her relationship with Kong Yue and Xuan Zhi. She told the little girl about the death of Kong Yue, the injury of Xuan Zhi, the care of Qi Yuan, and the destiny of Wu Chen. She omitted the part that she was a child of the emperor’s father and how she retaliated upon the general, the Prime Minister, and the lords. Shui Yinzhu was the storyteller, but her heart still ached when she recalled the past. Surprisingly, the string of her heart could still be plucked by the past after all the time passed. She was just as determined on her revenge as before. It was a long and sad story. The eyes of innocent Paner had already filled with tears. She knew that Shui Yinzhu was telling her own story. The pure girl had always been a fan of Shui Yinzhu. But it never occurred to her that Empress Xi would have such a tragic history. No, calling her Empress Xi would be the biggest insult to Shui Yinzhu. Shui Yinzhu’s heart softened, seeing the little girl’s crying with a shaking voice. She held the girl in her arms. The heartbroken woman in the miserable story started to console the listener. “Sweetheart, easy, easy.” “Sis, you are so poor. After everything you’ve been through, they are still calling you an evil woman,” Paner’s voice shook. “I’m fine. That’s why I wanted you to stay away from Yun Su because I don’t want to lose you.” “You are always so nice to me. You keep comforting me even though you are the one that has suffered the most. I have been bullied ever since I got into the palace, and you are the only one who cares about me. You are like my real sister.” “All right, sweetheart, I am your real sister.” The simple-minded palace maid never noticed that the drunk empress had turned completely sober. But after that moment of weakness, Shui Yinzhu realized her negligence and kept speaking like a drunk person. “Paner, you know what, Zhi is on his way. He is coming to pick me up.” “I see. I’m sure you will meet him.” “But there is nothing I can do. Nothing.” Shui Yinzhu said chokingly as her tears dropped, her body shivering. Paner held Shui Yinzhu in her arms and said, “Don’t cry, sis. Everything will be alright...” The little girl had no idea how she could comfort Shui Yinzhu. She was completely lost. “Paner, can you do me a favor?” “Sure. What is it, sis?” “No. It shouldn’t be you. That’s too dangerous. Too dangerous.” “Sis, what is it? What do you need me to do? Just tell me!” Shui Yinzhu didn’t open her mouth until Paner asked several times. “Paner, are you willing to get out of the palace and wait in a brothel in Huaiyang City for Zhi and pass him my things?” “Yes, I am. Where are the things you want me to give him?” “Help me get up, Paner.” “Okay.” Shui Yinzhu couldn’t really get up by herself, but not because of the wine. She had to walk to the dresser in her room with the help of Paner. She took out a large bag from a locker at the bottom and handed it to Paner. She then gave her a badge that Xuan Zhi left to her, internally used by the people from the Kingdom of Xuan. Shui Yinzhu told Paner to be careful and that she should put these things in Xuan Zhi’s hand herself. Then she took off the hairpin with two pearls and gave it to Paner before calling Xiaoba to send her to the brothel. Paner left. What she took with her was a detailed map of the imperial palace and a distribution map of the major military bases, together with some information sheets on the Empire of Yun and its officials, including their habits and weaknesses. She gave them all to Paner. The girl was completely loyal to her. It was the last step of all her work. Shui Yinzhu asked for this innocent girl before because a pure child’s heart would be the easiest thing to control. “Xiaoxin.” She summoned Xiaoxin again and told her to make arrangements in the brothel. Shui Yinzhu needed a guarantee that Paner would meet with the army of Xuan. Together with the intel, she needed the real princess to be sent to Xuan Zhi. Once Xuan Zhi married the real princess, he would be the rightful heir to the throne. Shui Yinzhu loved him. He was her true love, but she was no longer a proper match for him. She had done everything she could. Shui Yinzhu closed her eyes in her empty palace. Thinking of the woman she sent to Xuan Zhi, she couldn’t help feeling heartbroken. But she had to swallow the bitterness. All she could do was to wait and bring more chaos to the already chaotic imperial court. It had been more than two years since Xuan Zhi left Huaiyang City. He snuck in with Li Yi. The city was no longer as prosperous as it used to be, and Xuan Zhi only felt a storm of contrasting emotions. The destiny of him and his beloved girl changed like Huaiyang City. Shui Yinzhu became the evil empress, which only made Xuan Zhi feel more sorry for her. The woman he loved, the once beautiful and pure girl, was forced to become a monster. Yet he could do nothing to change it. “Uncle Yi, there is a place I need to go. I’ll meet you later...” “Your H... Young Master, it’s dangerous outside.” “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. You go to that brothel first.” “Understood.” Several days ago, there was a beggar visiting the base camp of Xuan with the badge that Xuan Zhi left to Shui Yinzhu. The beggar told them to visit a brothel in Huaiyang City. The war was about to start, but Xuan Zhi ignored all others’ objections and insisted on going to Huaiyang City. He intended to come alone, but others begged him to take Li Yi with him. Xuan Zhi’s visit to Huaiyang City was top secret in the army of Xuan. Only a few core members knew it. Once he got into the city, the first thing that came into his mind was to check up the tree that belonged to him, Kong Yue and Shui Yinzhu. He also wanted to revisit the places where Shui Yinzhu and he had been to. Even though it was dangerous, Xuan Zhi couldn’t resist the idea. The good news was that no one knew he would have the courage to come to the city. There wouldn’t be any ambushes. As he walked through the streets in Huaiyang City, many things still remained the same, but the environment had totally changed. The tree grew taller. Xuan Zhi was the only one left who could pay it a visit. He tapped on the trunk and wished for the safety of Shui Yinzhu and then left. He had many things to do. Making wishes wouldn’t help with that. Xuan Zhi wasn’t a superstitious man. He hurried to the brothel. Any information on Shui Yinzhu would make him anxious. It was early in the evening. The depression in the city didn’t affect the luxurious nightlife here. It was still crowded in front of the brothel. This wasn’t the first time for Xuan Zhi to visit a brothel. But as a man, he had never come for girls. The procuress asked someone to lead him into a private room as soon as she saw him. There were a lot of people in the hall, some of which were officials, and they could recognize Xuan Zhi. But the more dangerous it was, the safer. No one would expect to meet Xuan Zhi in this place, which gave him a perfect chance to sneak in. After he opened the door, Li Yi was waiting for him inside the room. The procuress shut the door immediately. She still felt afraid. Her master told her that Xuan Zhi would visit in person, but she never thought he could be so reckless. Even though the leader of the army of Xuan didn’t seem nervous at all, the nerve of other people went tighter. “Young Master, I never thought you would visit here by yourself.” “Do you know me?” “Yes. My master has shown me your portrait.” “Who is your master?” Xuan Zhi asked hopefully. The badge belonged to Shui Yinzhu. But he still threw the question for safety reasons. “She lives inside the palace, and we never saw her. But she arranged for us to wait for you here.” “All right, thank you.” “Please wait a minute, Young Master.” The door opened again shortly after the procuress went out. A lovely girl walked in. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but there was a rare purity on her face. “Are you Young Master Xuan, Xuan Zhi?” The girl was Paner. She had seen the portrait of Xuan Zhi, too. The real person looked much more handsome and righteous than his portrait. The girl was thrilled to see Xuan Zhi as she grabbed his sleeves. Finally, she could finish her task. “Let go of His Royal Highness, you reckless whore,” Li Yi talked before Xuan Zhi. “I’m not a whore. My name is Paner. I am a palace maid of my sister, the empress, Princess Shui Yinzhu.” Paner dropped her hands. The little girl then blushed at the thought of wearing the thin clothes of a prostitute to avoid detection. “Uncle Yi, it’s fine.” Xuan Zhi, however, took a seat naturally. “Xuan…Your Highness, my sister told me that you would believe me after you see this.” Paner took out the simple hairpin with two pearls from her pocket. Xuan Zhi immediately took that hairpin that belonged to Shui Yinzhu. There wouldn’t be a second one like this. He saw the extra pearl on the hairpin that belonged to him, knowing she must have been wearing the hairpin every day. “How is she? Is she all right? Did she suffer anything?” Xuan Zhi shot out his questions. The man was no longer calm as there was only anxiety in his peaceful eyes. “She’s fine. She sent me to give you something.” “Okay, what is it?” “She told me it was for you only.” “Okay. Uncle Yi, give us a minute.” “Your Highness, it’s not safe,” Li Yi said. They were in Huaiyang City, the capital of the Empire of Yun. Li Yi didn’t want to put his master in danger. “Just a minute.” “But...” “Leave us.” The only thing Xuan Zhi cared about was Shui Yinzhu at this moment. Being so eager to know her condition, Xuan Zhi sounded angry when he asked Li Yi to get out the third time. “Yes, Your Highness.” Li Yi had no choice but to leave. “Paner, let’s put your stuff aside. Tell me everything about your sister. How is she?” Shui Yinzhu was his first priority. She was the woman he cared about the most. “My sister... had been waiting for you to pick her up...” From Paner’s perspective, Shui Yinzhu was a kind and beautiful sister with a tragic history. Her version of the story focused on the helplessness and wishes of Shui Yinzhu, just like her name Paner where pan stood for hope. After knowing the love story of Shui Yinzhu and Xuan Zhi, Paner had a good impression of Xuan Zhi. She felt empathy for their bitter fate. Shortly afterward, the brothel would become the secret base of the army of Xuan in Huaiyang City. The confidential guards of Xuan Zhi hid in this place to collaborate with their men outside the city to open the gate later. But what annoyed Xuan Zhi the most was that Shui Yinzhu wanted him to marry the real princess of the Empire of Yun. He had one single woman in his heart. That would make it impossible for him to accept any other woman. Not even for a show. He ignored all others’ objections and denied the marriage with the real princess, which happened to make Zuo Xin quite happy. The army of Xuan was invincible and never lost a single battle. After three years of war, it arrived at Huaiyang City and started a siege. Huaiyang City’s defense line was soon to be destroyed! The two prophecies spread widely. “Princess of the Kingdom of Shui... 9 years old... 16 as a living sacrifice... the Empire of Yun prosperous... Otherwise... the Empire of Yun would perish...” “Mud water pollutes the empire. A monster comes, and the world will be changed.” As the Empire of Yun sank in chaos and corruption, its emperor and empress ruled the country with brutality and led their own life of pleasure while the common people were oppressed. Xuan Zhi turned to be the hero of this troubled time. At the same time, the army of Xuan found the last remaining royal family—the real princess of the Empire of Yun. It soon became the decision of god and the wish of common people that the Kingdom of Xuan should replace the Empire of Yun.