The little eunuch’s heart jumped violently, his fair face flushing red as he didn’t dare look directly at the young girl before him.

He lowered his head, first shaking it slightly in panic then, after thinking for a moment, nodding solemnly.

A fragrant breeze swept across his face.

Jiang Cheng lifted his head only to find that at some point the girl had already appeared right in front of him.

“Whether I am that Great Grandmaster or not isn’t important. What’s important is that you don’t tell anyone about this… just treat it as our little secret, how about it?”

Jiang Zirou seemed in very good spirits, smiling as she patted Jiang Cheng on the shoulder.

Before Jiang Cheng could answer.

Jiang Zirou was already holding the ancient book and walking into the Sutra Repository Pavilion.

“This Princess truly is quite the interesting person…”

* * *

Spring left, summer arrived and then autumn came again.

Half a year had passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Jiang Zirou continued cultivating diligently on one hand and on the other summarized the gains from the previous war.

Most of the time the Sutra Repository Pavilion remained leisurely and quiet.

The young eunuch Jiang Cheng worked very earnestly, diligently and conscientiously. Before dawn, he would get up to sweep away the dust in the Sutra Repository Pavilion and organize the books. Even though there was now one fewer eunuch, the pavilion did not appear even the slightest bit dirty or disorderly.

At the end of autumn that year.

On a clear morning carrying a hint of chill.

The long-unseen Emperor Heng came to the Sutra Repository Pavilion once again.

“It has been a while. What brings you to see me this time?”

Jiang Zirou greeted her older brother with a smile.

After the war ended, the power of the great clans was severely damaged and the martial sacred grounds no longer dared to interfere in court affairs because of Jiang Zirou.

For Jiang Heng, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Taking advantage of this period, Jiang Heng pushed forward sweeping political reforms, weakening the great clans and recruiting martial experts from the jianghu (martial world). The efficiency of the court greatly improved and the entire Great Xia was slowly emerging from the pain caused by the war.

For Jiang Heng, who had now become the ruler of a nation.

This period was undoubtedly both busy and joyful.

During this meeting, although Jiang Heng still appeared much older than his true age, his energy and spirit had improved considerably.

“This autumn we will, as usual, hold the sacrificial ceremonies, along with literary gatherings, poetry gatherings and a series of other festivals. I plan to choose an auspicious day to confer upon you the title of Princess… I have even thought of the title already. How about Princess Taiping? It symbolizes peace under heaven and a world without war, isn’t that wonderful~”

Jiang Heng said excitedly.

“Sigh…”

Jiang Zirou lowered her head, glanced at her somewhat slender build, sighed, then shook her head and refused Jiang Heng’s goodwill with a bitter smile.

“I don’t really like showing myself in public and I don’t want to shoulder the duties a princess is supposed to carry… Serving as the overseer of the Sutra Repository Pavilion is already good enough for me. Since I never had anything else at birth, I don’t dare hope for too much now.”

Jiang Heng froze for a moment.

Seeing his sister’s determined expression, he assumed she was still brooding over the late emperor’s affairs. After probing twice and receiving the same attitude, he no longer insisted.

Setting aside the matter of conferring the princess title.

The two chatted pleasantly in the Sutra Repository Pavilion. Jiang Heng spoke about how he dealt with treacherous ministers and rebels, how he pitted tigers against wolves to weaken the great clans, while Jiang Zirou drank tea and did not withhold her words of praise.

In the end, the conversation turned to the events on the battlefield half a year ago and Jiang Heng felt immense emotion.

“Our Great Xia being able to overcome this catastrophe… we truly owe it to that mysterious Martial Great Grandmaster. It’s a pity that such a lofty master appears like a dragon, showing the head but never the tail. If I could meet her again, I would treat her with the rites reserved for a National Preceptor!”

“Of course. Someone who can save an entire city’s people deserves to be treated with the rites of a National Preceptor without the slightest exaggeration.”

Jiang Zirou lowered her gaze, playing with the clear, crystalline teacup in her hand, answering softly.

* * *

In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed.

When noon arrived.

Jiang Zirou stood to send Jiang Heng off, but unexpectedly, as they stepped out into the plaza outside the Sutra Repository Pavilion, an incident occurred.

Noise of pushing and shoving came from the distance.

Looking up, they saw a youth in a python-embroidered robe running toward Emperor Heng while being held back by two guards.

The youth looked dull and simple-minded, his skin dark, his figure thinner and smaller than others his age. At a glance, he seemed somewhat malnourished, yet he was dragging along two guards at the Qi Refining realm and charging straight toward Emperor Heng.

“Your Majesty, be careful!”

The guard at Jiang Heng’s side drew his long blade, but Jiang Heng pressed it down with a raised hand.

At this moment, the youth in the python robe had already rushed up to Jiang Heng.

Jiang Zirou shifted aside without leaving a trace and lightly placed her hand on the youth’s shoulder. The youth’s body froze sharply, then he lifted his head, his dark bright eyes full of astonishment as he looked at Jiang Zirou.

A hint of surprise rose in her heart.

With Jiang Zirou’s current cultivation in the Great Grandmaster realm, she actually needed to exert a bit of strength just to restrain this youth. If he were a cultivator, it would be normal, but Jiang Zirou clearly saw that this youth possessed not even the slightest cultivation. The strength he relied on just now was entirely his own innate power.

Such raw strength was truly rare.

Emperor Heng glanced at Jiang Zirou without letting it show, but in his weathered eyes a trace of shock was hard to conceal. He opened his mouth, but merely smiled and reached out to rub the head of the youth in the python robe.

He explained to Jiang Zirou, “This is my Ninth Younger Brother. He’s about the same age as you. Come to think of it, I can’t quite recall if you should call him older brother or younger brother…”

Emperor Heng made a joke, easing the once-tense atmosphere.

The youth in the python robe gave Emperor Heng a big hug, then lifted his head toward Jiang Zirou and grinned widely at her.

“Then I’ll treat him as my younger brother…”

She reached out and tousled the youth’s messy hair. This youth was sturdy enough to dare charge at Emperor Heng inside the palace, yet in Jiang Zirou’s hands he was obedient and did not dare move recklessly.

Emperor Heng grunted and after the youth finally released him, he continued speaking to Jiang Zirou.

“This younger brother of mine is named Jiang Longxiang. He was born simple-minded. He couldn’t walk at three, couldn’t speak at five and even now cannot recognize a single written character. But his temperament is excellent. His heart is the purest child’s heart in the world. Treat him well and he will treat you wholeheartedly in return.”

“Is that so? If only everyone in the world had hearts as simple as his.”