Fate Trading System – Chapter 187

Plan A

Guiding Stars 3

Gift of Medicine

The Emperor Consort naturally wouldn’t let Su Xin be seen in such a state, as it would damage his reputation for being magnanimous and kind.

What happened in private was one matter, but public appearances were another entirely.

Su Xin had already guessed this point. If the Emperor Consort let her go out to meet people and appear at Zixing Hall in this state, letting the Grand Tutor see her, wouldn’t that just be handing others ammunition? So she ate her food slowly when being fed.

Though Su Xin wouldn’t go to Zixing Hall today, her young study companion would still come to see her.

The study companion was nine years old, a year younger than Su Xin. Named Xiao Mingyi [肖明依 | xiāo míng yī], she was a chubby little girl who appeared simple-minded but was actually quite clever.

Well-taught by her mother, she had learned from an early age to play the fool while hiding her true capabilities. If she were truly stupid, how could her shrewd mother bear to send her into the palace to serve at Su Xin’s side?

“Please return to bed, Your Highness. A patient should look like a patient. This servant was ordered by the Emperor Consort to attend to you.”

The speaker was Suxin [素心 | sù xīn], the Emperor Consort’s palace maid, who stood respectfully behind Su Xin.

Jinxiu clutched her robes in displeasure but could do nothing except watch Su Xin with concerned eyes.

Su Xin nodded to show she understood. After all, others might come to visit her soon, so she had to play the part of a patient convincingly.

Su Xin was helped out of her clothes and lay in bed, staring blankly ahead.

Suxin stood guard at one side together with Jinxiu. Though Jinxiu wanted to speak with her mistress, she couldn’t, and could only stand there like a wooden post, completely motionless.

Before long, Xiao Mingyi arrived.

The chubby little girl walked into the inner chamber and approached Su Xin’s bedside.

“Greetings to Your Highness. Your Highness, you were perfectly fine yesterday. How did you fall ill today?”

Xiao Mingyi asked with concern. Jinxiu brought her a small stool, and she plopped down beside the bed, meeting Su Xin’s gaze.

“I might have caught a cold last night from being careless. In any case, I’m feeling quite unwell today.”

“Is that so… Should I stay here to keep Your Highness company, or should I return home?”

“You should head home first. Wait until I’ve recovered in a few days before returning. This Imperial One will send someone to notify you.”

“Alright!”

Xiao Mingyi appeared somewhat pleased, though she quickly concealed her joy. But being a child, any keen observer could tell – children love to play and generally dislike studying.

Su Xin inwardly noted her acting skills. In truth, Xiao Mingyi not only loved studying but was actually a top student. She had learned to hide this from an early age, even pretending to be uninterested in studies, but when no one was watching, such as at home, she would read books with her mother.

Su Xin had no intention of telling Xiao Mingyi what had really happened to her. It wasn’t about saving face – everything would have to wait until her hands healed.

Xiao Mingyi left shortly after arriving, and the palace chamber fell quiet once again.

Su Xin stared at the ceiling with lifeless eyes. Lying in bed without feeling sleepy was quite uncomfortable, especially with no entertainment available.

Su Xin secretly practiced her cultivation technique, was served lunch, and expressed her desire to get up and walk around.

“There shouldn’t be any more visitors coming to see This Imperial One. This Imperial One wishes to walk in the courtyard.”

“But the Emperor Consort said…”

Suxin frowned slightly, looking very much like she wanted to push Su Xin back into bed.

“This Imperial One won’t leave the palace gates. Is it not allowed to simply walk in the courtyard? Suxin, go ask the Emperor Consort for permission.”

Suxin hesitated before leaving. Once he was gone, Jinxiu immediately changed her demeanor and even made a face.

“Hmph, what a bully.”

Su Xin was amused by this and held out both hands, gesturing for Jinxiu to apply medicine again.

The medicine in the imperial palace was naturally of the highest quality. After being allowed to apply it once in the morning, Su Xin’s swelling had already started to subside.

Suxin returned shortly and performed a courtly bow to Su Xin.

“The Emperor Consort says you may walk freely in the courtyard, just don’t leave the palace chambers to avoid arousing suspicion.”

“Oh.”

Su Xin knew the Emperor Consort would approve her request.

The original owner of this body had no particular interests except for the flowers and plants in her courtyard.

Su Xin imitated the original owner’s past behavior, crouching in the courtyard to look at the flowers and plants she had grown. She also kept two small pets – a pair of birds.

She whistled to play with the birds, but due to her injured hands, she had Jinxiu feed them some birdseed.

The original owner was truly unique – it was rare to find such a princess in the imperial palace. She wanted to hide from everything, so she immersed herself in other pursuits, finding solace among flowers, plants, birds, insects, fish, and paintings. However, some things couldn’t be avoided simply by hiding.

Her identity was special. The original owner never worried about food or clothing, born into high status. If she didn’t participate in those power struggles, she could have lived comfortably until death. But with status comes responsibility – one must shoulder the duties that come with their position in life, though heaven doesn’t always grant our wishes.

Even looking at the present situation, things weren’t optimistic. There were no reliable forces in the imperial court, and the inner palace was useless. That man saw her as a thorn in his side, and these feelings would only intensify as the Fifth Princess grew older, as the Emperor Consort would stop at nothing to pave her way.

The Emperor Consort’s palace was naturally vast. Su Xin stayed in her small courtyard watching flowers, touching the vibrant petals. The original owner wasn’t particularly skilled at growing flowers, having killed quite a few, but through trial and error had managed to grasp some basic techniques. Several pots of flowers bloomed especially brilliantly and beautifully.

Su Xin walked to her courtyard entrance while looking at the flowers. The door was open, and she happened to make eye contact with the Fifth Princess Yue Xingyao passing by.

This four-year-old brat should stay properly in her own courtyard instead of wandering around aimlessly.

“Greetings, Fifth Sister.”

Su Xin greeted her.

“Imperial Sister, why didn’t you attend classes at Zixing Hall today?”

The four-year-old Fifth Princess asked in surprise. In her memory, her usually timid eldest sister would never dare to skip classes so boldly.

Su Xin held out both hands, letting her see the reason.

“Fifth Sister, I was too careless yesterday. I hope you weren’t startled. The Emperor has punished me, and next time I’ll be careful not to walk around the palace carrying flowers.”

Su Xin emphasized this point – the original owner had thrown that flower pot quite skillfully, of all places to throw it, right in someone’s face.

Yue Xingyao saw Su Xin’s medicine-covered but still swollen hands and frowned. She gave an order to her palace attendant, then walked into Su Xin’s small courtyard.

“Paying respects to Fifth Princess.”

Suxin, standing in the courtyard, bowed to Yue Xingyao.

“Suxin? Why aren’t you staying properly by my Imperial Father’s side? What are you doing here?” Yue Xingyao asked curiously.

“The Emperor Consort ordered me to temporarily care for the First Princess, as Her Highness is unwell today.”

Yue Xingyao showed little reaction, merely giving a faint “mm.” She avoided Su Xin’s palms and led her by the wrist toward the rattan chair.

“The Emperor Consort’s punishment was indeed harsh. I didn’t tell him about this incident, but he must have heard it from other palace servants. I wasn’t frightened, but Elder Imperial Sister, you should indeed be more careful next time.”

Though still just a four-year-old child, there was nothing strange about the way she spoke.

Children in the imperial palace matured very early, and the Fifth Princess Yue Xingyao especially so.

Su Xin suspected that Yue Xingyao still didn’t know her true identity. She likely believed herself to be the Emperor’s biological daughter. Though distant with others, she treated Su Xin as a child raised by the same mother, hence her relatively kind tone.

In the original owner’s memories, this scene shouldn’t have happened this way. The original owner would have stayed in bed, not rising for the entire day without the Emperor Consort’s permission, nursing her “illness” until her hands healed. She wouldn’t have met Yue Xingyao, much less had the Fifth Princess holding her wrist like now.

But Su Xin was different. From the moment she opened her eyes in this bed, she was destined to change the original course.

Actually, setting aside the identity entanglement between the original owner and Yue Xingyao, Su Xin felt some sympathy for this little girl.

Girls in the imperial palace should take pride in being the Emperor’s daughters, and the Fifth Princess surely felt the same. But one day when she discovers the truth isn’t so – that she isn’t some noble person but the product of her father’s illicit affair, a bastard child – that sickening feeling would surface.

Anyone with proper values would struggle to accept such an identity. All of Yue Xingyao’s pride was built on her status as a princess, but her father would shatter all of that.

One’s fate at birth cannot be chosen, but the path ahead can be changed. Su Xin didn’t know what happened to Yue Xingyao later that caused such a dramatic change, as Fourteen couldn’t investigate it.

Because Su Xin chose to return to such an early point, Fourteen could only access existing characters’ memories up to this point. Even if Fourteen were to investigate Yue Xingyao now, it could only retrieve information about her life before age four, which held little significance.

Yue Xingyao’s palace attendant quickly brought over what she had requested – an expensive-looking box of medicinal ointment.

“This was given to me by the Emperor last time. It’s especially effective for burn scars and should work well for swelling too. Elder Imperial Sister, I’m giving this to you. Remember to apply it regularly.”

“Mm, thank you, Fifth Sister.”

Regardless of what this little girl would become later, at least at this moment, her desire to make amends was genuine.

How could someone so kind-hearted now become so deranged later? If Yue Xingyao chose to pursue the path to the throne, then regrettably, they were destined to become adversaries in the future.

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