Chapter 22: A Sister’s Secret and a Princess’s Resolve

“No, there’s one more thing I need to mention.

Jidi, you are merely the first among us Father is dispatching to the human realm.

Therefore, even if progress proves challenging, there’s no need to grow anxious.

Father will subsequently dispatch your other siblings to that world to provide assistance.”

While Father, with his immense capabilities, could undoubtedly send all the princesses to the human world in a single stroke, his decision to dispatch us one by one surely stems from his own strategic considerations.

“Oh? Is that so?

Then I’ll go ahead and wait for you all there.

Though, I suspect it’s far more probable that I’ll have completed the mission Father entrusted to me long before any of you even need to make an appearance.”

Jidi, after all, was one of the seven princesses, and her power was far from negligible.

Even if she were dispatched alone, without any of Father’s legions, her strength would undoubtedly suffice.

“Do not underestimate them, Sixth Sister.

Thirteen years have passed, and the strength of humanity has undoubtedly evolved.

Should you treat them with excessive disdain, even you, a princess, could potentially face defeat.”

Concerned that her sister might fall victim to her own overconfidence, Yinlang offered a pointed warning.

“It’s quite alright, Fifth Sister.

I am simply eager to witness what manner of beings these humans truly are – the ones who once repelled Father’s legions.

I shall ascertain whether they are even worthy of being considered opponents requiring my full destructive might.

Now, I must depart; await my triumphant news.”

With preparations for her impending battle in the human realm awaiting her, Jidi departed the gathering ahead of the others.

****

“With that, this meeting is adjourned.

Though Father did not select any of us this time, I urge all of you sisters to begin making preparations upon your return.

We remain unaware of when Father will next choose, or who the next chosen will be.”

As had been mentioned before, Jidi was merely the initial choice.

Given that all the sisters still assembled held a future opportunity to be selected, commencing preparations now was by no means a poor decision.

Naturally, Huangren herself felt the same impetus.

“Indeed.

Proactive preparation is undoubtedly the most efficient approach.

Fifth Sister, I must trouble you to escort Third Sister back.

I have some private matters I wish to discuss with Eldest Sister.”

“Very well.

You two may converse at your leisure; I shall take Third Sister and make my exit now.”

Hoisting the still-stunned Ganghuo onto her back, Yinlang pushed open the door and departed, mindful enough to close it softly behind her, affording the two elder sisters the privacy they desired.

“Speak then, what is this private matter?”

Since Jiqiao had sought her out, Huangren resigned herself to discussing these ‘private matters’ with her.

After all, it was part of her duty as an elder sister to lend an ear to her siblings’ concerns and assist them in finding solutions.

Nevertheless, the fact that Jiqiao would seek her out for a personal discussion came as quite a surprise to Huangren.

Jiqiao, after all, was renowned as the sharpest mind among her sisters, capable of resolving most private affairs through her own keen intellect.

Indeed, the other princesses often relied heavily on her when faced with challenges demanding intellectual prowess.

What kind of personal predicament could possibly compel someone of her caliber to confide in her?

“Eldest Sister.

Little Sister’s absence is, in fact, connected to you, isn’t it?”

“Oh?

Do you harbor suspicions that I might have done something to Little Sister?

And upon what evidence do you base such an accusation?”

Jiqiao’s suspicion came as no surprise to Huangren.

Possessing an exceptionally sharp intellect, Jiqiao was undoubtedly the one among her sisters most likely to first discern that Huangren had eliminated their Little Sister.

“During the meeting, when Yinlang suggested we wait for Little Sister, your tone was subtly unnatural, almost rushed, as if you were eager to dismiss the topic altogether.”

Any other princess might have overlooked that subtle hint of unease.

Yet Jiqiao, with her acute perception, seized upon that very anomaly.

From this slight deviation, she could unerringly infer that Little Sister’s disappearance was inextricably linked to Eldest Sister.

“I see.

Truly, you are the sharpest mind among us, to have caught even such a minuscule flaw.”

“Your response allows me to infer an admission, then.

Little Sister’s absence is indeed linked to you.”

“Yes.

I concede; it is indeed connected to me.

More than that, I personally carried out the act.”

Lying was futile in Jiqiao’s presence.

Thus, Huangren confessed with candidness.

Indeed! The Little Sister who was absent had, in fact, been eliminated by her own hand!

“Can you divulge your reasons?

I fail to comprehend why you would move against Little Sister.”

Jiqiao genuinely struggled to grasp Huangren’s rationale for such an action.

Huangren clearly wielded the greatest power among them, while Little Sister was, conversely, the most vulnerable.

Moreover, Huangren had consistently treated her sisters with kindness and had never displayed any overt animosity towards Little Sister.

Consequently, Jiqiao found herself utterly unable to conceive of any motive for Huangren to have dealt such a fatal blow to Little Sister.

“A reason, you ask?

Must I truly?

If I had my preference, I would rather not disclose it.”

The mere admission of personally eliminating Little Sister had already brought a flush of discomfort to Huangren.

To then be compelled to articulate her reasons was something she genuinely wished to avoid.

For in her own estimation, the reason itself was utterly laughable.

“If you are unwilling to speak of it, then let it be.

However, should Father inquire about Little Sister, how do you intend to deflect his questions?”

Though it was regrettable not to ascertain the reason, it would not impede her subsequent actions.

Thus, Jiqiao conceded the point.

“There is no need to concern yourself with Father; when the moment arrives, I shall naturally evade his inquiries.

That is, provided you do not reveal this matter to him.”

Presently, Father remained unaware that Little Sister had been eliminated by her hand.

Should he inquire about Little Sister, she would simply contrive some excuses.

Much like the Fourth Princess; half a year had already elapsed, and now Father no longer even inquired after her, as if she had never been his daughter at all.

“Rest assured.

I shall not speak of it, as doing so would bring me no advantage.

Now for my next question: the Fourth Princess, who vanished without a trace half a year ago—was that also your handiwork?”

“No, it was not.

While I, too, am unaware of why the Fourth Princess disappeared half a year ago, I assure you that was absolutely not my doing.”

Her words carried no hint of dissimulation, suggesting this was indeed the truth.

“If you are truly curious about the Fourth Princess’s disappearance, you would be better served by questioning Yinlang rather than me.

Their relationship, after all, has always been strained; it is not inconceivable that she might be responsible.”

The Fourth Princess’s power posed no threat to Huangren, and while her temperament was admittedly difficult and unlikable, their relationship was not so antagonistic as to warrant such an act.

She had never committed any offense against Huangren, who, in turn, had no conceivable reason to harm her.

“Regrettably, considering Yinlang’s capabilities, I do not believe she would be a suitable opponent for the Fourth Princess.

Furthermore, if it truly were Yinlang’s deed, she would have confessed to it long ago.”

Jiqiao possessed a keen understanding of each of her sisters’ strengths.

In a direct confrontation, Yinlang would be utterly incapable of defeating the Fourth Princess.

Though they all existed at the pinnacle of power, a discernible disparity in strength still existed among the princesses.

“Then, my final inquiry.

Would you move against your other sisters, myself included?

Just as you did to Little Sister.”

Even if Huangren were to answer ‘yes,’ Jiqiao held no illusion that the outcome would alter.

Before the strongest among them, even a fully prepared Jiqiao would inevitably fall to her might.

Yet, she still yearned for an answer.

“Ah, that, I cannot give you a precise answer.

However, I can assure you that for the present moment, I have no intention of harming my beloved sisters.

As for what the future holds, that is a matter for another time.”

At the very least, as Father himself had informed her, no other princess, save for the weakest Seventh Princess, possessed the capacity to challenge her position.

They were incapable of becoming rivals for the ‘Bride’ title.

Huangren would not move against those who posed no threat to her existence.

Had Little Sister not harbored the potential to threaten her, she would have had no desire to act against her either.