Fate Trading System – Chapter 197

Plan A

Guiding Stars 13

Parting

Su Xin neither agreed with the notion that human nature is inherently good nor inherently evil.

Although all children start as blank slates, each person has different talents and personalities.

Personality is a mysterious thing – it could be genetic factors, or it could be self-formed by the child, though greatly influenced by the environment.

Su Xin believed that the education one receives in childhood would affect their entire life.

She believed that what Yue Xingyao would become in the future was inevitably connected to who she was now.

But she couldn’t offer comfort, regardless of excuses, because those matters were too private, and the implications behind them were too unseemly.

The night was deep, but Yue Xingyao had no desire to sleep.

The candle in Yue Xingyao’s room was still burning when she dressed and walked outside.

Liujin slept in her outer hall, as night watch was mandatory.

Liujin was awakened by the sound of the door opening. His sleep had always been light, and because of his night watch duties, his master’s safety was his great responsibility, so he never dared to sleep deeply.

“Master, why have you risen?”

Liujin hurriedly put on his clothes and shoes, walking to Yue Xingyao’s side.

Yue Xingyao wanted to be alone now, wanted to walk around, but current circumstances wouldn’t allow it.

“It’s nothing, continue sleeping.”

Yue Xingyao shook her head and returned to her room.

Liujin didn’t dare go back to sleep, asking if Yue Xingyao needed anything.

“Make the candlelight brighter.”

“Master isn’t retiring yet?”

The time was equivalent to 11 PM, which was very late for ancient people who went to bed early, especially for Yue Xingyao who was only a six-year-old child.

“You sleep first. This Imperial One will stay here. If anything is needed, This Imperial One will call you.”

“Yes.”

What should be done? Should she continue down the original path as planned?

But the original plan… Yue Xingyao had intended to adapt as needed, to prepare first, as she still had much time, but if her opponent was Da Huangjie, then more thought would be needed.

Because human hearts are truly difficult to control, they’re the most unpredictable.

Because you never know where a person’s limits lie – they might be a very weak person, but for the sake of their beliefs or those they want to protect, they could become incredibly strong.

Yue Xingyao felt somewhat anxious in her heart. Because of her identity, she could no longer righteously and openly do things as before. She felt that the blood flowing through her veins now was tainted.

Of course, this didn’t mean that her father or mother were heinous criminals, but her birth was dishonorable – she was the product of an illicit union. Thinking this way made Yue Xingyao feel utterly disgusted with herself.

The next morning, when daylight illuminated the earth, Liujin gently knocked on his master’s door, only to find the child still wearing yesterday’s clothes, sitting on the bed in a fixed position, lost in thought.

Liujin instinctively realized that this child had sat through the night without sleeping.

“Master, you’re awake.”

But Liujin still spoke thus – some things need not be spelled out, nor was it his place to touch upon them.

“Would you like to wash up and have breakfast? In a few days, you’ll need to attend classes at Zixing Hall with the Imperial Tutor. You’ll need to rise earlier then.”

Liujin approached and saw Yue Xingyao nod.

Having not slept all night, combined with Yue Xingyao’s naturally pale complexion, the dark circles under her eyes and the bloodshot vessels were very prominent.

After finishing breakfast, Yue Xingyao unconsciously walked toward a certain place. Liujin hurriedly followed beside her, recognizing the familiar path and knowing where the Fifth Imperial Princess was heading.

“Paying respects to Fifth Imperial Princess.”

Jinxiu was watering flowers in the small courtyard, tending to various plants.

“Is Da Huangjie awake?”

“The master has risen and is currently having breakfast in the hall.”

Su Xin was quite casual when eating, sitting alone at a table in her own palace. She didn’t like having a row of people watching her eat. Occasionally, Jinxiu would stand beside her to serve dishes, but now Jinxiu had been sent to tend to the garden, so she was eating alone.

Though the breakfast wasn’t particularly lavish, it was very nutritious. The Emperor Consort wouldn’t shortchange her in terms of food, after all, she was still of royal blood.

The breakfast was rather light – xiaolongbao [小籠包 | xiǎo lóng bāo | steamed soup dumplings] were beautifully arranged in the steamer, with thin skin and plenty of filling, translucent and appetizing. In a porcelain-white bowl was century egg and lean meat porridge, garnished with some green onions, perfectly seasoned.

“Master, Fifth Imperial Princess has arrived.”

Su Xin chewed slowly, swallowing her mouthful of xiaolongbao before setting down her chopsticks.

“Let her in.”

“Why has my sister come to seek me so early? Have you had breakfast? If not, join me here.”

Su Xin sat in her chair, displaying a gentle expression.

Su Xin’s face wasn’t strikingly beautiful enough to captivate all at first glance, but her features were excellently combined, creating the kind of beauty that grew more appealing with time. Her eyes seemed to contain endless depths, making one feel as if they might fall in and never climb out once they looked into them.

Yue Xingyao faced the morning light, looking into those eyes, and for a moment became dazed, as if the softest part of her heart had been touched. But that flutter came quickly and left just as fast, without reason, and when trying to examine it carefully, no trace could be found.

“I’ve already eaten. No particular reason – I couldn’t sleep early this morning, so I took a walk, and somehow found myself here at Da Huangjie’s place.”

The room’s door had been closed, and Jinxiu was outside with Liujin.

“Is that so?”

“Da Huangjie, I want to ask you a question.”

“Feel free to speak.”

“If something you always believed was right turns out to be wrong, what would you do?”

“That would depend on the nature of what I believed to be right.”

“For example, say there’s a fine piece of jade – it’s beautiful, pleasant to handle, and because of its noble origin… but then one day you suddenly learn it’s actually counterfeit, not from that origin at all. What should be done?”

“Such a small problem? What is there to struggle over? Even if it’s fake, if you believe it’s real, then it’s real.”

“But what if all the appraisers say it’s fake?”

“Either accept that it’s fake, or use your own power to make those appraisers change their words. However, what’s fake can’t become real, and what’s real can’t become fake.”

What’s fake can’t become real, and what’s real can’t become fake.

No matter how much you pretend to be of royal blood, you know clearly in your heart that you’re not, isn’t that right?

Yue Xingyao said this to herself internally. Perhaps she could deceive everyone else, but she couldn’t deceive herself.

Now Yue Xingyao found herself somewhat admiring her Imperial Father. How could he remain so at ease despite doing wrong, even continuously hypnotizing himself and trying to brainwash her?

People often show off most what they lack most.

Perhaps her Imperial Father knew clearly that she wasn’t of royal blood, but he refused to admit it, so he kept deceiving himself and repeatedly telling her: you are noble, you are superior, you should look down upon all others.

How laughable.

“Why does Wu Meimei suddenly ask such a question? Could it be that you have a beloved possession that turned out to be counterfeit? Did someone dare to present fake treasures to you in the palace?”

“No, it’s just a story I read in a book.”

“Oh? How did the treasure’s owner in the story handle it? I suppose you were unsatisfied with their approach, which is why you asked me, correct?”

“Yes, the story was about a wealthy merchant who received a treasure from someone. It was said to be extremely precious and beautiful, so she played with it day and night and showed it off to friends and relatives. But by chance, she met a skilled appraiser who told her the treasure was fake. She was very angry and secretly sought several other appraisers, who all reached the same conclusion. So the merchant, in great fury, smashed her treasure to pieces on the ground.”

“In that case, the merchant didn’t really love the treasure itself. What she loved was only the prestige and face that the treasure could bring her – merely its title.”

“I feel the same way.”

Yue Xingyao agreed in a very soft voice.

Her melancholy hadn’t dispersed; instead, it had grown heavier.

Yue Xingyao knew she couldn’t retreat, and the Emperor Consort wouldn’t allow her to retreat. Even if they wanted to retreat, no one would let them go.

If that were the case, they would inevitably become opponents.

Now there were only two options: if Da Huangjie could obtain that position before they all grew up, then they wouldn’t need to become enemies.

But this method was clearly unfeasible, because the Emperor was currently in very good health and would likely live until all the imperial daughters had grown up before passing away.

Or they could form an alliance, working together to deal with common enemies, before finally turning their blades on each other.

“Wu Meimei, you’ll be starting classes at Zixing Hall soon, won’t you?”

Yue Xingyao was already six years old and had reached the right age.

“Yes.”

Yue Xingyao nodded.

“The Imperial Tutor teaches very well; you should be able to learn many principles and much knowledge.”

“Will Da Huangjie continue to practice both martial arts and studies as usual?”

“No, I’m leaving this place.”

“What?”

“A good daughter should set her sights on the four corners of the world. I’ve heard that the border regions are no longer peaceful. I want to go there to train myself.”

“You’re going to the battlefield?”

“Yes.”

“Then… when will we meet again?”

“At the earliest, four years.”

“Must you go?”

“I must.”

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