The little palace maid, Cai Lian, was very diligent. She cleaned the library and arranged the books in an orderly manner every day.
She felt delighted to be able to eat her fill and wear warm clothes. And there was meat for every meal. Thus, she worked even harder.
He Chuan, who was happy to be free, immersed himself in cultivation every day.
However, Crown Prince Cheng’an had been coming more frequently these days. He would always bring it up intentionally or unintentionally, wanting to become a disciple like Princess Changning.
How could this little bit of thought be hidden from He Chuan? This Crown Prince wanted to pave the way for the future.
“His Highness the Crown Prince needs to help His Majesty deal with court affairs, and you also need to learn how to govern the country. Your accomplishments in martial arts are destined to be not high. It’s only good enough to strengthen your body.”
Crown Prince Cheng’an was rejected once again, so he did not continue to request. After playing a game of go, he left with his servants.
He Chuan stood in the courtyard, looking at the falling leaves flying in the sky. He could not help but sigh in his heart. Time passed quickly.
People change with time. Back then, Crown Prince Cheng’an was carefree and only knew how to follow him to practice martial arts. But now, he already knew how to use tactics.
Changning wanted to use martial arts to change his fate and break free from the royal family’s shackles.
She was unwilling to marry.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
“You’ve been in the library for so long. Have you been used to it?” He Chuan slowly stretched out his hand and caught a falling leaf just right.
Cai Lian’s martial arts was not high, only Houtian third-stage. She could not see the subtlety of his technique.
“Other than being a little cold in the library, it’s much better than working in other places.”
As long as she finished the cleaning work every day, no one would bother her, and there would be no bullying.
What else could she not be satisfied with?
Occasionally, Cai Lian would practice martial arts. She also had a dream to be a martial arts cultivator in her heart.
To become a heroine who punished evil, promoted good, and stole from the rich to help the poor.
“If you have the chance to go outside, would you be willing?” He Chuan asked.
He had signed in at almost every corner of the palace.
It was time to go out and see the outside world.
See the outside world?
Cai Lian had never thought about it.
Because she had been a poor child since she was young, she had to help her family with farm work every day. However, she still could not ease the burden on her family, so she was sent to the palace to work.
She had heard the more experienced palace maids talk about it.
The palace maids were all women from the families of the current criminals or female criminals. There were also captives captured from other countries. Because their status was relatively low, they would not resist being recruited as palace maids.
Except for these people, most of them were like Cai Lian, the daughters of the poor people. They could not afford to raise children, so they sent their girls to the palace to work, so they could earn a living.
They lost their freedom for life. As long as they entered the palace, the palace maids would be “Born to be a member of the royal family, and die to be a ghost of the royal family.” They were surrounded by the tall palace wall every day and did not have any contact with the outside world.
Similarly, they were not allowed to go out to visit their relatives. Even on a big day of celebration, they needed the permission of their master before they could leave the palace for a moment.
A small number of palace maids were taken in by the Emperor because of their beauty and were taken into the harem. However, because of their low status, they often did not end up well.
Dying of old age in the palace was their final fate.
“Of course, I want to, but I can’t.” Cai Lian knew the current situation. If there were no accidents, she would work in the library pavilion for the rest of her life.
He Chuan did not say anything. During this period of time, he had observed Cai Lian. She was hard-working and did not have any hidden thoughts.
This made him more satisfied, and in the end, he decided to take her out to travel.
“Little Eunuch He!” Changning appeared on time.
Over the years, she had been getting closer and closer to breaking through to the half-step saint cultivator realm, and she could take on the responsibility of protecting the Zhou Dynasty.
However, she lacked actual combat experience.
He Chuan could rest assured after leaving.
“Your Highness, do not cultivate from today onwards. First, read the outer pavilion books daily to increase your knowledge. It would be best if you read more meditation books.” He waved his hand, indicating that he should stop cultivating first.
This made Changning somewhat puzzled.
She was just one step away from becoming the saint cultivator that everyone envied. Why should she stop?
Wouldn’t it be better just to get ready?
“I got it.” Changning was somewhat unwilling.
“Breaking through to become a saint cultivator is extremely dangerous. If one’s state of mind can’t keep up, it’s easy for one to go mad. When that time comes, it would be difficult for even the Great Luo Golden Immortal to save you. Back then, I waited for three whole years.” He Chuan earnestly instructed.
Hearing this, Changning stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. Only then did she realize that she was too impatient.
Cai Lian, who was not far away, was so shocked that she could not close her mouth. She thought that she had just heard an illusion.
Her Highness the Eldest Princess, had wanted to break through to become a saint cultivator.
Was this a joke?
When she had entered the martial arts palace, the old eunuch she had taught had once said that be=reaking through to be saint cultivators was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Back then, nine thousand-year-old Wei Zhengchun was only a half-step saint cultivator. But he was already invincible in the world, suppressing the seven great sects and making them unable to raise their heads.
Now, the two people in front of him were actually talking about breaking through to the saint cultivator realm!
And it sounds effortless. At least, it was easier than breaking through to the innate realm.
However, Cai Lian remembered He Chuan’s teachings. Do more things and speak less. Whatever she heard would rot in her stomach.
“I will protect you after you break through, then leave,” He Chuan looked at this disciple who was also his Master and friend, and said gently.
“What?! What does Master mean?” Changning was initially very happy, but when she heard the word ‘leave’, her heart instantly sank to the bottom of the valley.
“The world is so big; just guarding the inner courtyard of the Imperial Palace is like looking at the sky from a well.” He Chuan had recently flipped through many books in the inner room.
With his current strength, no one would be able to control him, even if he flipped through the Imperial Secret Manual.
Records of the secret history.
Three hundred years ago, the White Lotus Saint Cult was wreaking havoc in the central plains.
The cult master, Jue Wutian, was invincible with his evil techniques. The Masters of the central plains were like ants in front of him.
Seeing this situation, the seven great sects couldn’t sit still and sent out several half-step saint cultivators. They thought they could defeat the cult master, Jue Wutian, but they didn’t expect that he was already a saint cultivator.
Facing the attacks of the seven great sects’ half-step saint cultivators, he killed all of them.
Seeing that Jue Wutian was going to unify the martial arts world of the Central Plains, the hidden experts of the sects took action, and the heavily injured Jue Wutian temporarily withdrew from the central plains.
Moreover, there were many hidden places that He Chuan wanted to know about.
From this, it could be seen that the outside world was full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.
A half-step saint cultivator was not enough. A saint cultivator was just the beginning.
“I want to go too!” Changning had long wanted to explore the martial art world, and this wan an excellent opportunity.
“The Great Zhou Dynasty needs you to take charge, and as the Eldest Princess of the Imperial Family, His Majesty and the Empress will not agree.” He Chuan directly refused.
What a joke. It was not easy to go out and have some peace, so how could he bring Princess Changning along?
Moreover, a saint cultivator was not enough in front of absolute strength, so he definitely could not bring her along.
No matter how Princess Changning begged, He Chuan was determined not to change his mind.
After interacting with each other for many years, both master and disciple knew each other’s temperament. The things He Chuan decided would basically not change.
Changning kept her head down and followed his instructions. She went to the library to select books to improve her state of mind.