Chapter 1837 – The Grand Finale (Part 2)
Outside, the cold wind howled.
Jiang Pengji changed into a clean and sharp outfit, the God-slaying Blade hanging by her waist, her expression as calm as ever.
“The snow is heavy outside; why doesn’t the Lord wear an extra layer?”
Xu Ke spoke with familiarity.
“The freezing weather can’t compare to a chilling heart. What’s the difference between wearing one more or one less?” Jiang Pengji stepped past him, tilting her head, “Lead the way. I hope it’s not too far. I’m as sturdy as a bear — taking off another two layers is no problem. You, on the other hand, should watch out for the cold now that you’re getting older.”
Xu Ke laughed and bent down to pick up the lantern, slowly walking ahead.
The cold wind whipped at the falling snow, settling in her hair; the thicker snow made it seem like she had turned white-haired from afar.
“I unexpectedly wish for the snow to come down even harder,” Jiang Pengji maintained about a meter’s distance from Xu Ke. The figure ahead held the lantern, slowly moving through the thick snow. The only sounds were their crunching footsteps, breaths, and the howling wind; the lively winter scenery was eerily quiet, “If something were to happen to me, I’d reckon I’ve lived a long life.”
Xu Ke remained silent, his back straight as a rod, but the fingers holding the lantern pole trembled slightly.
She followed Xu Ke’s lead, but he seemed to be taking her farther off-path, and the surroundings grew more desolate.
Jiang Pengji said, “By the way, do you remember how many years it’s been since we met, Xiaoyu?”
Xu Ke did not answer, and Jiang Pengji continued, “I remember it was shortly after the Blossom Festival when I turned twelve.”
“How could I forget? It was an unforgettable day.”
Jiang Pengji counted on her fingers, “I never paid attention before, but thinking about it now, in just two months, I’ll be thirty.”
Indeed, outside of those idle folks in the streaming room, the one she’d known the longest in this life was Xu Ke.
She had known the idle folks in the streaming room for seventeen years and eight months, and it was the same for her relationship with Xu Ke, as master and servant.
Jiang Pengji thought time moved slowly, but looking back, everyone had sprinted from youth into their thirties and forties.
By the standards of this era, she had already lived more than half her life.
Xu Ke asked her, “Yes, in just two months and thirteen days, it will be the Lord’s thirtieth birthday.”
In ancient times, people celebrated significant birthdays — the ages of thirty, forty, fifty, and so forth.
Jiang Pengji expressed regret, “Turning thirty is quite significant, but it’s unfortunate to be facing tough times this year. It seems I can’t hold a grand celebration.”
She indeed wanted to hold a good party, but everywhere was in disarray, and funds were needed everywhere. It simply wasn’t appropriate to waste extravagantly.
Xu Ke insisted, “The Lord has always been frugal and dislikes waste. If you were to hold a grand celebration for your birthday, you’d probably hesitate as well.”
He had accompanied Jiang Pengji through seventeen birthdays, and each year she merely made do with a longevity noodle.
Those three years in Langya County had been a bit more extravagant, where aside from having a bowl of longevity noodles at home, they would also go out to restaurants for a table of dishes and drinks.
Jiang Pengji smiled, “You really understand me, Xiaoyu.”
Every time she claimed she wanted to celebrate a proper birthday, something or other would come up, and she ended up keeping it simple.
In truth, she was just accustomed to a simpler life at heart.
As the two walked and chatted, they finally spotted flickering candlelight near a distant farmhouse after half an hour.
Jiang Pengji rested her hand over her eyes, “Wow, this place is quite remote.”
Xu Ke replied, “After all, it’s a task better done out of the public eye. Does the Lord expect to beat gongs and drums here?”
Jiang Pengji paused for a moment.
“You have a point, but is this place too unfair to my family’s three treasures?”
Xu Ke’s mouth twitched slightly as he calmly responded, “A small sparrow has all its organs; there’s still heating and a fireplace, so they won’t freeze.”
Jiang Pengji said coolly, “True, if they freeze, it’ll be hard to compensate.”
Just a hundred meters from the farmhouse, Jiang Pengji suddenly called out, “Xiaoyu—”
“Hmm?”
“In this life, I’ve aimed to do no harm to my conscience, but there’s only you — I owe you so much. Do you harbor any resentment?”
Jiang Pengji halted, and Xu Ke glanced at the farmhouse behind her, his expression filled with a mix of confusion and melancholy. “To speak honestly? The truth is — if the Lord comes out of here, I won’t hold a grudge. If it’s anyone else coming out, you can’t blame me for resenting you for a lifetime.”
Jiang Pengji smiled, “Hearing that puts a lot of pressure on me.”
Qi Guanrang said he hoped to see her ascend to the throne. The idle folks promised to witness a prosperous age with her, and she had verbally pledged to celebrate over drinks… Now Xu Ke says if she doesn’t make it out, he’ll resent her… It often felt like they were both little princes and great masters at these times.
Xu Ke added, “The Lord has always been self-assured and proud; why be humble now?”
Jiang Pengji pondered, “Perhaps it’s because I’m older; after all, we’re both facing thirty as middle-aged persons.”
Xu Ke chuckled, believing her nonsense.
Jiang Pengji waved her hand at Xu Ke, not bothering to look back as she walked toward the farmhouse.
Xu Ke stared at the entrance of the farmhouse, a chilly, derisive smile tugging at his lips as he stood alone in the swirling snow.
Uncertain if she was waiting for an old companion of seventeen years and eight months or a stranger wearing the skin of an old friend.
“Thinking about it is truly desolate—”
The so-called “gods” manipulate people’s lives at will, giving and taking as they please. Mortals are merely pawns being played with.
In the eyes of the “gods,” powerless mortals choose silence to preserve themselves, allowing themselves to be manipulated.
Little do they know that mortals also have their day to bare their fangs.
“Hope it’s you who emerges, my Lord.”
Xu Ke raised his hand, gently brushing a hidden dagger tucked in his sleeve, his expression shrouded in inscrutable gloom.
At the same time, Jiang Pengji pushed open the door to the courtyard, only to find familiar faces inside.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here for a meeting?”
Jiang Pengji laughed, brushing the accumulated snow off her shoulder.
The Eldest Princess, previously weeping silently, brightened her eyes upon seeing familiar faces.
“Mother!”
Jiang Pengji laughed, “Wow—after months, A Lian speaks so clearly now.”
In the main hall stood several iron cages of various sizes, and she saw her daughter leaning against the iron bars, looking pitifully at her.
“Mother, hug me!”
Princess Lian reached out, wanting a hug, while Princess Yan in another cage rolled her eyes and shot Jiang Pengji a glance.
“Make it quick; don’t drag it out.”
At this moment, the other three in the large cages began to stir.
“I—ow—it hurts so much. Where is this—Eldest Sister?”
That was Liu Zhao’s voice.
“Shut up, don’t make a fuss.”
That was Liu Zhi’s voice.
Wei Ci sat inside the cage, looking at Jiang Pengji as if still in a daze.
From Beiyuan to Wanzhou, thousands of miles apart, was he hallucinating?
Liu Zhi, Liu Zhao, Wei Ci, three adults.
Jiang Yan, Jiang Lian, looking drowsy and sleepy, and the panda daughter being clung to tightly by Jiang Yan.
And—
Standing in the middle, facing Jiang Pengji, was Xun Mei.
Jiang Pengji said, “Don’t you know to pay respects to your old master upon seeing her?”
Xun Mei’s expression was dull, her eyes vacant, resembling a moving puppet.
Jiang Pengji said, “You hid it quite well, taking advantage of your marriage to Xiaoyu to clear your suspicions.”
Xun Mei finally moved, her voice sounding electronic, “It’s just a coincidence. Who told that maidservant to be so smart? You’re foolish, handing me the opportunity.”
“How so?”
If she claimed stupidity, she wouldn’t accept it.
“Xun Mei” pointed at herself, “This maidservant was but a pawn set up by that piece of a split body back then.”
Jiang Pengji crossed her arms, “I know, it’s a fragment of the unnamed transmigrator’s streaming system. Both you and Ta Xue were originally her pawns; Ta Xue went down one path, while you seized the chance.”
“Xun Mei” replied calmly, “Mortals always think they’ve rebelled against fate and arrangements, but in reality, they’ve only fallen into a bigger trap.”
Jiang Pengji asked, “So Xun Mei did not escape you?”
“Of course not. She thinks she has escaped but has been under my manipulation from beginning to end.”
Jiang Pengji fell silent.
“And you, self-righteous, actually married a mere maidservant to Xu Ke and entrusted him with important tasks.”
Jiang Pengji’s expression did not change, as if she found this situation wholly unsurprising.
“What did you do to Xu Ke?”
“Xun Mei” giggled, though her electronic voice sounded eerie.
“Nothing much, just let him understand what it means to ‘be a savvy person in times of change.’ You pride yourself on seeing through people’s hearts, but little do you know, Xu Ke has already made two preparations. Whether today you come out alive or I do, Xu Ke will recognize the one who comes out as the master. As long as Xu Ke remains steadfast, your close confidants won’t stand a chance no matter how they stir. Jiang Pengji, you’ve spent nearly eighteen years sewing me a wedding dress; I wonder how it feels? The Jiang family’s debt, this is the first payment I collect!”
Jiang Pengji said, “There’s no flavor to it; if you covet a farm, take it. As if I were that poor.”
“Xun Mei’s” smile briefly froze, “As long as you’re at peace with it.”
With that, she drew a dagger and pulled Princess Yan, who was tightly hugging the panda, out of the iron cage.
Jiang Pengji: “…”
“Since you don’t value it, hand over your body, otherwise these people might lose their lives. Especially these twins, your own children. Their skin is so tender, I just need to make a small cut on their necks to take their lives.”
Wei Ci’s face turned pale at the words, “How dare you harm the princess?”
“Xun Mei” shot Wei Ci a glance, “Don’t rush; your turn will come.”
Jiang Pengji sneered, “You’re really becoming more depraved. You can’t win in a fair fight, so you’ve mastered such vile tricks.”
“Xun Mei” said, “As long as I can win, any means are acceptable.”
Jiang Pengji asked, “What should I do?”
“Xun Mei” pointed to the gloves on the ground, “Just put these on.”
Jiang Pengji picked them up and looked at them, “What are these?”
“Xun Mei” said, “Gloves that separate the physical and spiritual bodies. Back then, Liu Xi perished in such a manner.”
Liu Zhi and Liu Zhao beside her turned pale.
Jiang Pengji countered, “If I refuse to comply?”
“Then I can only capture their spiritual forms one by one right in front of you, including your close ministers and friends. Jiang Pengji, I’ve been pushed to a dead end; I can do anything now. If I’m to die, I’ll drag someone down with me.”
Jiang Pengji sighed, “Heavenly Brain, you’ve truly fallen to a point that breaks my heart.”
Once the Federation’s Heavenly Brain, having escaped for two thousand years, now cutting slices off itself like preparing a steak.
To resort to such despicable means is truly sad.
