Volume 3, Chapter 378 – You Are Sisters, Not Master and Servant!

Cheng Yinyin paused, then said, “I don’t have experience getting along with siblings myself… But I know real sisters wouldn’t interact like this.”

A hint of complicated emotion showed in Cheng Yinyin’s eyes.

“Second Sister, you are a person, an individual in your own right.”

“What you want, what you wish to do, should be entirely your own choice!”

“Even if she’s your eldest sister, she shouldn’t control everything you do.”

“You’re not an object, and you’re certainly not her possession.”

“Between sisters, there should be equality.”

Cheng Yinyin gripped Lu Zhuxin’s shoulders and said loudly.

“Second Sister, you two are sisters. Not master and servant!”

Chi Xiyan stood at a distance, her mind trembling slightly.

‘Master and servant?’

‘I’ve never thought of it that way!’

‘Does it look like that to outsiders, that the way I treat Muxue is like master and servant?’

‘Does the way I treat Muxue look like I’m treating an object?’

‘No, this is just Cheng Yinyin’s talk.’

‘She’s trying to drive a wedge between me and Muxue.’

‘It can’t be taken seriously!’

The look in Chi Xiyan’s eyes as she watched Cheng Yinyin gradually turned cold.

‘Muxue is smart. She can understand my intentions, and she certainly won’t develop a rift with me over such persuasion.’

‘Cheng Yinyin, her scheming is all in vain.’

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Lu Zhuxin secretly raised an eyebrow.

While Chi Xiyan secretly observed them, Lu Zhuxin was also using her spiritual consciousness to secretly keep track of Chi Xiyan’s reactions.

She could notice that girl’s ashen face, her tensed muscles.

Huh?

Did Cheng Yinyin’s words really pack that much of a punch against that girl?

Lu Zhuxin grumbled inwardly.

She turned to face Cheng Yinyin, putting on a surprised expression.

“How could that be…”

“Sister treats me very well.”

“Little Sister Yin has misunderstood sister.”

Lu Zhuxin lowered her head slightly, explaining in a soft voice.

“Sister doesn’t want me to take part in the selection because she’s afraid I might run into danger.”

“Besides, my cultivation is shallow, and I have no particular strengths.”

“Neither in talent nor appearance can I compare to sister.”

“Even if I took part, the chances of passing would be next to nothing… let alone being of any help to sister.”

Hearing this, suspicion showed in Cheng Yinyin’s eyes. “Danger? Why would there be danger in the selection?”

Lu Zhuxin said, “When Her Majesty selects consorts, aside from looks and talent, cultivation level and aptitude are also part of the criteria.”

“An imperial consort can’t just be a pretty vase, good for nothing but her looks.”

“So… that’s probably why sister doesn’t want me joining the selection and causing trouble for her.”

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Chi Xiyan listened quietly, a trace of strange emotion in her eyes.

She murmured to herself in her heart.

‘Muxue, I’ve never thought that way… And I’ve never once thought of you as a burden…’

‘But the factions involved in the consort selection are intricate and tangled. I can’t guarantee what dangers you might run into there, nor can I be certain I could keep you safe…’

Suddenly, Cheng Yinyin’s words interrupted Chi Xiyan’s inner monologue.

“Second Sister! How can you put yourself down like this!”

Cheng Yinyin leaned in a step closer, gripping Lu Zhuxin’s wrist tightly.

“These thoughts of yours are all completely wrong!”

“When the Empress selects consorts, appearance is the foremost consideration.”

“Second Sister, say nothing else, but among the noble young ladies of any renown in Shuyuan Commandery, I’ve seen most of them. Speaking of looks alone, those who could rival you number no more than a handful!”

“Next comes talent and aptitude.”

“Eldest Sister’s cultivation is indeed powerful, but Her Majesty’s harem is not lacking in consorts with strong cultivation either.”

“Besides, Eldest Sister’s temperament is too domineering. Women like that don’t have the advantage in the consort selection.”

“But you’re different, Second Sister. I don’t think your talent and aptitude are any weaker than Eldest Sister’s.”

“It’s just that Eldest Sister is too overbearing, and it’s overshadowed your own light, making you lack confidence.”

Cheng Yinyin held onto Lu Zhuxin, speaking earnestly.

“Trust me, if Second Sister were given a chance to show herself, your performance would absolutely be no worse than Eldest Sister’s!”

Lu Zhuxin looked at the girl before her, appearing dazed on the surface, as if pondering how credible her words were.

But inside, she was actually marveling: this Cheng Yinyin girl was indeed raised by Madam Qian, her talent for lying with a straight face was quite impressive.

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‘Chi Xiyan and I only arrived at the Cheng residence a day ago, and I’ve only met her twice. How can she be so certain of my abilities?’

‘But I wonder what that Chi Xiyan girl would think if she heard this.’

‘When it comes to cultivation talent, who could possibly compare to the reincarnation of a Sword Venerable?’

Thinking this to herself, Lu Zhuxin quietly glanced at Chi Xiyan from the corner of her eye.

But it was only the briefest, most inconspicuous of glances.

Lu Zhuxin quickly withdrew her gaze and spoke to Cheng Yinyin.

“Little Sister Yin, don’t say that… How could I possibly compare to sister!”

Hearing this, Cheng Yinyin immediately grew anxious.

“Second Sister! Everything I said is true!”

“You’ve been controlled by Eldest Sister for too long!”

“In front of her, you always feel like you’re a step beneath her. This can’t go on.”

“If this continues, your aptitude and your talent will slowly be worn away under her control.”

“I…” Lu Zhuxin bit her lip lightly.

Hesitation, wavering, and inner struggle flickered in her eyes.

Seeing the complicated expression on Lu Zhuxin’s face, Cheng Yinyin knew she had a chance, and pressed on while the iron was hot.

“Second Sister! Trust me! You can’t keep living under Eldest Sister’s control forever!”

Lu Zhuxin hesitated for a good while before, as if finally making up her mind, she said to Cheng Yinyin, “What does Little Sister Yin think I should do?”

Hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Cheng Yinyin’s face.

“Second Sister, listen to me first…”

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In the distance, Chi Xiyan watched the two girls chatting happily, the color in her eyes growing ever darker.

…

When Lu Zhuxin returned to her own room, the moment she stepped through the door she felt a heavy pressure.

She closed the door, turned and took two steps, and saw Chi Xiyan sitting at the edge of the bed.

“You’re back?” Chi Xiyan raised her head, her expression indifferent. “I came looking for you early this morning and found you weren’t in your room.”

“Where did you go?”

‘Don’t you know perfectly well where I went?’

‘You clearly hid and watched everything from the shadows. What’s with the act now?’

Lu Zhuxin grumbled inwardly a couple of times.

On the surface, though, she still put on a flustered look, shrinking her neck a little.

“I practiced sword forms in the courtyard this morning, but sister never showed up. So I thought I’d go out for a walk.”

“I didn’t expect sister to be waiting for me here.”

“Out for a walk?” Chi Xiyan’s brow furrowed. “Where did you go?”

Lu Zhuxin twisted her sleeve between her fingers, her gaze drifting slightly. “Nowhere in particular. Just wandering around the grounds here.”

‘She’s lying!’

‘She ran into Cheng Yinyin, and talked with her for a long while.’

Chi Xiyan didn’t know what to make of the feeling in her heart.

“Didn’t I already tell you, we have no one to rely on here at the Cheng residence, and we need to be careful about everything.”

She scolded in a low voice, “Did you not take anything I said to heart at all?”