Fate Trading System – Chapter 192

Plan A

Guiding Stars 8

Caught in the Rain

The martial arts instructor and the literary tutor had both been selected, and Su Xin would soon be able to execute her plan.

Su Xin bid farewell to Taifu, expressing gratitude for her teachings.

When Taifu first heard her farewell, there was a hint of surprise, but that surprise was immediately suppressed by a different kind of calmness.

“What’s wrong, Taifu? You seem quite surprised by your student’s actions.”

“Indeed, it is somewhat unexpected. I never thought Da Huangdi [First Imperial Princess] would make such a choice.”

Taifu was clearly a very perceptive and intelligent person, her face marked with the traces of time, her eyes seeming to peer into one’s soul.

“There are countless paths in this world, and many ways to reach this palace,” Su Xin said meaningfully.

Taifu shook her head without responding. As Su Xin had said, there were many ways to accomplish things in this world, and even more paths to reach a destination. Why obsess over how others achieve their goals, or whether their methods were honorable? Let others be the judge of that – she would not be the one to make such judgments.

Although she served as Taifu, bearing the heavy responsibility of education, she would not rigidly dictate which path was right or wrong to take.

It was already evident from teaching the two princesses that the future succession struggle would not be peaceful, but she had no intention of stepping into these troubled waters.

From the original Su Xin’s memories, she knew what Taifu would do later. She was someone who could truly let go, or from another perspective, a rather weak-willed and peaceful person without ambition. She would choose to resign from her position and return to her hometown, living a quiet life in her small corner, never again stepping into this place that could devour people and stir up waves of strange developments.

Su Xin returned to her small courtyard, gazing at the flowers and plants that filled it. Without warning, a gust of wind swept in from the horizon, and dark clouds loomed overhead, bringing with them a suffocating heaviness.

The sudden downpour began.

The rain showed no mercy, arriving with the wind and pouring down in torrents, ruthlessly drenching the world without a trace of compassion. The wind was fierce, the rain relentless.

Unlike its usual gradual approach, it launched an immediate assault, leaving Su Xin soaked like a drowned rat.

Instead of seeking shelter beneath the eaves at the first sign of rain, Su Xin kept moving her flowers and plants, carrying them hurriedly toward the shelter of the roof.

Muddy water overflowed from the flowerpots’ edges, staining Su Xin’s palms and clothes, but she paid no attention, focused on saving these voiceless lives.

“Your Highness, the rain is too heavy! Leave them be and come inside quickly!”

Jinxiu called out while running toward Su Xin with an umbrella, his voice becoming unclear as it mixed with the sound of rain.

“This palace must tend to them first.”

Who knew when the rain would stop? If these plants were subjected to such fierce rain even briefly, they might not survive. Having cared for them for so long, Su Xin was determined to save them.

Seeing how the rain was too heavy to even hold up an umbrella properly – carrying one made no difference as they were soaked through anyway – and it had become more of a burden, Jinxiu tossed the umbrella aside and rushed into the curtain of rain to help his master move the flowerpots.

After managing to move all the flowerpots under the corridor eaves, the rain continued to fall, creating a pitter-patter sound as droplets hit the roof tiles.

“Your Highness, please go inside and change your clothes – no, no, take a bath first. Jinxiu will prepare everything for you. Please don’t catch a cold!”

Though Jinxiu was also completely drenched and shivering, he still rushed over to pull Su Xin inside.

Su Xin quietly went to bathe, changed into clean clothes, then drank a bowl of warm soup while sitting on the bed with her hair loose.

While Su Xin bathed, Jinxiu had other palace servants come to attend to her, and quickly tidied herself up as well. Now he knelt at Su Xin’s bedside, drying her hair.

“Da Huangdi, please don’t be so willful in the future. Let us handle such tasks – you need only give the word. Why get yourself soaked in the rain? If you catch a cold, Jinxiu would never forgive himself.”

Jinxiu spoke these nagging words while carefully drying his master’s hair.

“It was an emergency, and the rain came too suddenly and too heavily. I’ll be more careful next time,”

Su Xin replied with obvious affection in her voice. The original host and Jinxiu had grown up together, so their unusually close relationship made such intimacy natural.

After what seemed like an endless time drying her hair, Jinxiu quietly withdrew only when Su Xin began to drift off to sleep.

Su Xin sank into a soft dream state filled with deep darkness, where no clear images could be seen. She sat quietly in the darkness, enjoying the tranquility. She knew this wasn’t a nightmare – she felt awake, yet clearly knew she was asleep, her consciousness in a mysterious state.

Before long, Su Xin awoke. Outside, the torrential rain showed no signs of letting up. The sky remained completely overcast without a hint of clearing. This wasn’t typical June weather, the change had come too suddenly. Su Xin yawned, wanting to sleep more, but though she lay in bed tossing and turning, sleep eluded her when she closed her eyes.

At that moment, there was a gentle knock at the door, and Jinxiu’s voice came from outside.

“Da Huangdi, Wu Huangdi [Fifth Imperial Princess] has come to see you.”

Jinxiu stood outside, preparing to enter. His expression showed confusion – why would the Fifth Princess come alone with just an umbrella in such heavy rain? And where were all her palace servants?

Not daring to be negligent, Jinxiu quickly had palace servants help Wu Huangdi change clothes. Though ill-fitting, they had to make do, as there were no other clothes available. Jinxiu certainly didn’t dare offer Yue Xingyao any used clothing.

Su Xin became fully awake, frowning as she looked at the scenery outside. What was Yue Xinglan doing here at this time?

“Let her come in directly.”

Su Xin couldn’t be bothered to get up and dress formally, instead lounging casually in bed, covered by the blanket.

Light footsteps approached from outside, and Su Xin couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Yue Xingyao in her ill-fitting clothes.

“Wu Meimei, why have you come to see me at this time? Isn’t it pouring outside? Is there something urgent you must discuss?”

Su Xin gathered her loose hair to appear somewhat more dignified, but the sight of her reclining in her undergarments made any attempt at dignity impossible.

Yue Xingyao had just been caught in the heavy rain, and though she had an umbrella – better than nothing – it provided little protection. Given her young age, she had stumbled along the way, making quite an ordeal of the journey.

Now, seeing the warm bed, she had an irresistible desire to climb in.

“Wu Meimei will have to make do. My quarters don’t have any clothes that would fit you, so these are my new clothes. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all, Da Jiejie. Could you let me come up and warm myself?”

The four-year-old child shivered, her teeth chattering as she pointed tremulously at the bed. Her adorable yet pitiful appearance made it impossible to refuse.

“Of course you can.”

Su Xin hesitated before answering. Their relationship was growing increasingly intimate, and she didn’t know how to refuse, so she simply allowed it. After all, she remained clear about her objectives from start to finish, and would never abandon them for anyone or anything.

Yue Xingyao happily burrowed into the bed, brazenly placing her ice-cold feet on Su Xin’s legs.

Su Xin didn’t object, letting Yue Xingyao hug her and use her as a human warming stove.

“Wu Meimei, you still haven’t told me why you had to brave such heavy rain to see me. Is there really something urgent?”

Though Su Xin asked this, she didn’t truly believe that a four-year-old Yue Xingyao would have anything so pressing to discuss that it couldn’t wait until the rain stopped.

“Actually, it’s not that important. I just heard that Da Jiejie isn’t studying at Zixing Palace anymore, but instead has a new private tutor and will be learning martial arts. Is that true?”

“Yes, and is that why you came through the rain to see me? Wu Meimei, you’re being quite mischievous. This isn’t such a big deal, is it?”

Su Xin wondered where Yue Xingyao had heard this. Though palace servants were quite gossipy, matters concerning their masters were usually discussed in secret. Su Xin had only just made these arrangements, so the servants couldn’t have known so quickly, let alone spread it as gossip. She must have heard it from the Emperor Consort.

Su Xin’s guess wasn’t wrong – it was indeed the Emperor Consort who had told her. The Emperor Consort naturally had his own information channels, and the Emperor hadn’t intended to keep this matter secret. Su Xin hadn’t planned to hide it either, so it wasn’t surprising that the Emperor Consort knew.

“Indeed, it’s not a big deal.”

Yue Xingyao pouted, not understanding why she felt compelled to come, as if possessed.

After all, she would begin her studies in two years, by which time her elder sister would have left, wouldn’t she?

The only difference was leaving earlier or later – they wouldn’t have any interaction in Zixing Palace anyway.

“Da Jiejie, why do you want to learn martial arts?”

“For physical fitness.”

Su Xin had lost count of how many times she’d used this excuse, but it was always a safe way to deflect questions. Even if others had doubts, what could they possibly deduce?

“Then… I want to learn too!”

“Huh? Wu Meimei, wait until you’re older. You’re still too young – not yet of age to practice martial arts.”

Su Xin smiled as she refused. It simply wouldn’t do – she had no desire to have a little shadow trailing behind her, especially when that shadow would become her future rival.

Never before had Yue Xingyao so desperately wished to grow up as she did in this moment.

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The author has something to say:

Su Xin: You’re still too young.

Yue Xingyao: *puffs up chest* Not that small!

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