The Holy Princess: The Present
The present...at end of winter...
Beiyue hung out at her lotus ponds at night, feeding the large fish that swam around her lotuses with diced dried fruit.
Higurashi Kagome, now 12 years old AGAIN, is now a beautiful princess who's despised nationwide.
Her only associates is Dongling, her new best-and-only friend, her uncle and their teacher.
Aunt Xihe can hardly come due to her jobs, but when she does, she gives her the same boon.
How can she know that being a holy magic user, is quite the supportive cheat when in Japan, all it does is purify demons?
Yet here...it can do much, much more?
Just like in video games...
Midoriko had a hand in it and she was grateful, so she's not entirely a sitting duck here in this new world.
Dongling was loyal to Beiyue.
She was taken in by her mother after war destroyed her village and family, and it was Jianqiu, her mother's handmaiden who educated Dongling, so she wasn't like most servants in the country.
She was a good kid.
Loyal with a strong sense of responsibility, supportive and strong-willed. And she never changed when Beiyue granted her education and training.
She was no turncoat like Xue.
Shows the difference in upbringing, no?
She led a rose-colored life with her new friend ever since she did what the real Beiyue would never do: tattle.
Poor girl's spirit was so broken she thought nobody would help her. A girl hated by everyone.
She was a victim of victim-blaming when anyone with a brain in earth would say otherwise. How can it be your fault what you were born with?
This world lacks brains in that regard.
She filled their home with medicinal plants, and fruiting trees.
Four people used to enjoy it in this estate, now it's three now that Ling moved out to get married. So now it's their teacher who was the last person to enjoy seasonal fruit from the estate.
This world sure is different...
Culture.
Food.
Fashion.
Attitude.
She sighed.
She honestly preferred Sengoku Jidai to this.
Her uncle after she tattled, pretty much told her everything about their youth and even she can see that the royal twins were set up by their own mother for politics.
Grandma seems kind but sad most days and uncle was extremely cold towards her.
She doesn't have the full picture yet. Looks complicated but she's clearly the brain behind all this.
What's going on?
For now, unless someone tries anything with her, she can't start. For now.
For now, being weak is out of the question.
She looked back in all her years in Junior High School, and she only got better on the final six months before they dealt with Magatsuhi, Naraku and the Jewel.
Then again, how is she supposed to know Magatsuhi SEALED her powers?! Bastard.
But Midoriko gave her as many advantages as possible to survive this new world...and she had plenty of time to mourn her family. Midoriko even told her family in the future why she can no longer go back home. At least they weren't left hanging about her fate.
She sighed.
She mourned enough and now, her story will truly begin.
She will miss being Higurashi Kagome, the Miko Highschooler though. The jewel killed that girl, and Midoriko made her Huang Beiyue the Trash Princess. And with her new powers, has to vindicate this deceased girl.
'Missy, we graduated from Principal's lessons now.' said Dongling, approaching her lady in her maid uniform. At home it's maid uniform or a training outfit. Outside is in her summoner's dress. 'What do we do next?' Beiyue looked thoughtful before her eyes took on a mischievous smirk.
'Well, I enjoy being a total troll.' Beiyue smirked, tossing out more dried fruit onto the water and watched it float for the fish to snack on. 'You'll enter the Summoner Course.'
Dongling's jaws dropped and her lady's mischievous face isn't helping her mellow.
'Ehhh?!' she squawked. 'B-but missy! Principal's already taught us everything! We don't need Lingyang!' Dongling protested.
Literacy and Grammar. Arithmetic. Etiquette. Art of War. Warrior Hand-to-Hand and Sword Classes. Summoning Arts. Pharmacy. Medicine.
'As much as I agree with you, but everyone must graduate there.' Beiyue shrugged. 'Not only that, our lessons are limited. It takes eight years to graduate and we're halfway done, you know?' she said. 'Pharmacy is a self-study thing at home. Besides, I'll enjoy crushing a few more arrogant egos through you. I mean, only thirteen and you're already a Sword Master and you're now a 7-star compared to last year...and how many noble brats older than you are stuck at 3-4-stars till graduation age?' she chuckled rather vindictively. 'And I'm a closet Sword Master and a Magician-Class Enchanter. Anyone who dares will get the surprise of their lives, so I will be alright. Dongling should do her best and make fun of them in school, and let's graduate in four years.'
'But everyone knows you'll be in Imperial College...'
'I'm merely stage-playing.' Beiyue scoffed with a handwave. 'Let them see what they want to see...and what happens afterwards, who on earth will suspect me?' Beiyue snorted. 'I can prank as many people as I like.'
She created Shikigami and used her own hair to house them rather than ofuda. And Principal knows of her works. She was a Summoner in her own way, but unlike Spirit Beasts, each shikigami is as strong as she is. And her Magician-Class cultivation is the equivalent of a 9-star Summoner's cultivation. An Enchanter is capable of laying waste to a city with their magic.
Summoners need more effort to destroy a city with their beasts while Enchanters with spells can do just that in five moves. Out of all cultivators, Magicians have higher MP than Summoners.
Yet weirdly enough, people look up to Summoners more than Enchanters. It boggles the mind as Enchanters are living nukes on their own and can create spells and curses. So prey tell why are Summoners more respected?
She's strong. But she aspires to be as strong as Sesshoumaru, the strongest being she's ever known in her life in this world. Only then can she rest easy to live her life in peace, in a crappy world like this.
'Oh yes, the annual auction is coming up.' said Dongling. 'Are you attending?'
'Not interested.' Beiyue drawled. 'Upon sending Qibao, I saw what's for sale and I'm not interested. Anyway let's play in the Floating Forest. Its about time for you to switch to a new spirit beast anyhow, in time for school while I hope I score good too.' Dongling snorted at that.
'Ehehehe, anything will do for miss, holy magic helps you bypass foundational requirements you can basically go shopping.' indeed, she bypassed elemental requirements.
Healing was reserved for people with Wind Element.
Pharmacy and Medicine was normally for Earth Element.
Yet she can do both with no restrictions.
However, she was limited with Pharmacy.
She can only heal and protect. She can't create stuff that harms others. Not only that, she was poison and venom-proof. In fact, her power awakened when Concubine Xue gave her poisoned treats, claiming it's to cheer her up after Princess Royal's death. Too bad for bitch it never worked! The good are protected!
'That's true. Well, let's get some sleep after feeding the fish. Tough day tomorrow.' Beiyue smiled as the two girls went back into their home.
xxx
Concubine Fang might be Xiao Yuancheng's wife, but she still lives in Princess Royal's Estate, having the privilege to move into Bufeigu Pavillion.
It was where Concubine Qin used to live with Xiao Zhongqi and Xiao Rou. It was a pavilion for Yuancheng's most favored wife Concubine Qin. The most lavish pavilion just next to the princess' residence.
She had it cleaned up and refurnished with Beiyue's blessing and she can live here in peace. Yuancheng can handle the squabbling of the two other wives and their kids. As far as she's concerned, she EARNED her peaceful retirement by doing the right thing for years. She was proud of her virtuous character with no stain on her reputation in the city, and was able to get Ling a good send-off. She was by far, the most accomplished wife. Father-in-law has her in his eyes for having a clean repute, and accomplished in marrying Ling'er to a Sima's son.
So by doing what everyone SHOULD have done: the RIGHT THING, she now enjoys her life.
A beautiful lavish home with a garden to match, while her clothes, shoes and accessories are simple to her taste in regards to design, they're all made with top-grade materials. And her maids are all familiars created by Beiyue for her and Ling's safety before she got married. Now, these six maids are here to keep her safe.
Due to the ill-repute of the Xiao Family among noble circles, she enjoys talking with neighborhood ladies and made friends.
She was worse than a commoner to begin with. She was a MAID like Xue, a slave before they got elevated to concubinehood.
However, Yuancheng forgot one thing Beiyue did not...
...citizenship.
She's a citizen, Xue is not and its in the legal records, which she correctly filed to sort out his negligence in household affairs. That way if everyone took a look...she and Ling are safe, and Ling's marriage is safe.
Negligence will soon bite Xue in the ass and through her, her just-as-conniving daughter Yun, thanks to Yuancheng. At least, Zhonglei knows his place so he doesn't aim too high...
Third miss erased her past as slave-maid elevated to Concubine so Ling was able to marry a Sima's son. She went as far as altering the minds of the Xiao Clan themselves
Had suitors investigated and found that out...Ling would never get to marry into a Sima's household at all. For a slave, they marry a commoner citizen whose annual income is at least, 100 gold. And its a life of poverty and hardship!
The rest is up to her now. She's fighting on her own. She knows what a concubine household is like indeed.
xxx
Floating Forest the next day...
'I'm still not used to this, you know?' Dongling looked around as all Floating Light bugs fled at their presence. 'Freely walking in here with all these lights...the only good thing about it is these lights hate you!' she said with a sweatdrop as the Floating Light spirit bugs fled as soon as Beiyue got near. 'Had I been alone in here, I'll be bug food!'
'That's normally true...spirits are more sensitive than humans anyway.' said Beiyue with a sheepish grin. 'At least we're pest-free! We can hunt! Spirit Beasts of a higher rank at least will see me as a worthy opponent or something.'
'Right, so what will you get?'
'Hummm...something that suits me I guess...' said Beiyue, subtly using a certain item to detect powerful beasts.
For Summoners, being a Summoner and a partner beast has its spiritual benefits in cultivation. The benefits are similar to that of the Biling Fruit. If one cultivates for half the effort, both beast and master grow together. With full effort, even better.
Summoners sought high-tiered beasts, that no matter how weak you are, you can fight with a summoner below 5-stars or an ordinary high-level warrior. This is equivalent to making up for the lack of innate talents, and directly becoming a strong one from the day after tomorrow!
However, its not that easy as they already know.
A summoner's gains, depends on the beast's rank. They must fight, win respect and make a Life Contract in that order. But if one does it solo, progress is stupidly slow. They need HELP if they want to break through. They would need assistance, but there's a big BUT.
That's what happens if and only if, a powerful summoner is assisting those weaker than them, but you'll hardly find such generosity around. They sneer and look down on others weaker than them. Summoners are particularly arrogant it was good Principal Cang He was a rare breed of being 'nice guy' among Summoners. Dongling could become a Summoner through him.
She's an example.
Dongling has 12th rank beasts Cang He 'spooked' for her and she made a Contract with it.
She rose by sub-levels of stars through cultivating just like anyone would which is why she is a 7-star today.
Rising in rank for Summoners means getting to open new levels, by stars or by their sub-levels. However, newly-opened levels are empty. They must fill it up with cultivation to become more powerful. One's level is only acknowledged, if they filled up enough. However, with so many practitioners around, progress is slow as its a tug-of-war in cultivating ki for yourself as most idiots cultivate in the city. Smarter ones do it in the forests or mountains where you have no rival for qi in the air and their progress is faster.
But for Dongling, Cang He and the Emperor? Get Beiyue to give them Holy Balls to consume, and go out to absorb qi a hundred times faster!
Her new summon, the Armored Bear grew with her, that from a Rank 12 to more that keeping it around and with their cheat code, she'll be a 9-star by end of the year, so they won't switch Armored Bear out as planned just yet, but they would need a stronger spirit beast to break past peak 9-star. Normally, had she just started, she'd be a 3-star only. But BECAUSE she's a Sword Master in cultivation at the beginning, she skipped three levels at the beginning, then with Armored Bear plus cheat code, gained four more levels.
But for normal people like nobles and wealthy folk?
They rely on their relatives who would defeat beasts for them. However, due to fear factor, they're only confident enough to challenge beasts two ranks higher than their partners as risk of death, is VERY HIGH due to the Life Contract. If one dies, so does the other! So they got a veeeery slow-mo progress.
Doesn't help that when Cang He once took the girls to the annual Feat Contest in disguise, Beiyue saw how Summoners fight.
Its like watching Pokemon battle it out under orders from their trainer.
Problem? Due to lack of science knowledge, the fights can't even be called a Pokemon Battle. So many ways to win, they didn't even THINK of it nor did idiots teach techniques. It was pathetic. She was glad to have a childhood of Pokemon, and taught Dongling techniques to teach Armored Bear and train him herself, so it would respect Dongling more. Hey, she's a Heisei Era kid, OK?
So upon getting home, Beiyue gave Dongling ideas that year, and exploiting Shadow Weaponry.
Shadow Weapons are powerful. More powerful than the most expensive weapons made out of classy materials. It is usually granted by a Spirit Beast to its summoner and what it is, depends on the beast. So it can be anything.
Case in point, most beasts grant swords. But in Dongling's case, it's an armored gauntlet and knee-high boots, bear-inspired, so she can utilize her combat skills to nasty degrees, and temporarily have the physical power of said bear.
The only thing that can defeat a Shadow Weapon, is a shadow weapon of a stronger beast.
Its thus Beiyue's turn to get a Spirit Beast for herself.
She fancied...strong, but beautiful.
Beasts in Floating Forest are more powerful and arrogant, while Misty Forest has no shortage of weaker beasts. The strongest is usually a 12th Rank beast.
Here?
Anything further! Up to even Divine Beasts!
And she found a beautiful vine-snake befitting that of a girl that was a dead-ringer for Jalorda at Pokemon Black and White!
She obtained it. Its a divine beast-class. And it's understandably huge. Six meters long, and ten feet wide in its full, true appearance.
You...what are you? Your power is not of this world. it spoke in damn-near reverence. By the voice, it's clearly female. Dongling knows holy qi is super rare, but for beasts to be afraid or desiring it, she had no clue what to say or think. But it'd be easy for missy.
'I have holy powers in my soul, not in my dantian so I was mistaken as trash who's unable to cultivate until my teacher figured me out.' Beiyue deadpanned. The snake shook its head.
Fools. it said derisively. The human soul's equivalent is what a beast core is to us. You are more powerful, even more so with holy qi that's a great cultivational boost for others. it said almost longingly in desire. You are the...humane equivalent of the royal blood of Xiuluo City. You boost others through support given willingly, while they lose their hearts in exchange for power.
'Only, it's demon qi?' Beiyue frowned. 'Stuff like that can really mess with your head.'
Yes. This is a rare opportunity, so I will accept you as my master.
It was THAT easy for Beiyue, Dongling thought as she went slack-jawed as Beiyue made a contract with the serpent...
It made a weird sound of pleasure upon being contracted that got her lady blushing hard in mortification. Did that weird sound mean anything?
xxx
'Ohohoho! I see I see!' Cang He chuckled as he spoke to his students through the enchanted mirror while stroking his beard. On the mirror side was his two students camping in the forest. 'So it's like that for divine-class beasts.'
/Spirit Beasts are still terrified of me, but Divine-Classes want me at least...and my snake is acting like she's chugging high-class wine for free my cultivation is going crazy. She takes a bit of my power to cultivate, and then she goes full throttle I get boosted just as much./ said Beiyue wryly. /But teacher.../
'Hm?'
/Xiuluo City...what is that place?/ Beiyue inquired. /My snake spoke of it that it's the opposite of me...I bestow power with my willing support while the people there gain power at the cost of their hearts. Is that true?/
That got old Cang He pausing.
'I always thought that place is a myth...until Prince Feng Lianyi came.' he said. 'He is royal of Xiuluo...he's a hostage prince of Beiyao staying here but he is the true heir to the throne...once he ascends the throne, the student I've known will indeed, be gone.' he sounded sad about the matter. 'He was a polite friendly person too and quite popular. Given the attitudes of northern cultivators, he'll be no different.'
/Oh.../
'You already saw him at last year's banquet. His term will end this year.' said Principal Cang He. 'Oh yes, be careful upon your return home.' he warned. 'My experience with Divine Summoners is that cultivators in a city can feel their presence. Your mother is exactly that when she was alive.' he said, remembering old times. 'Fools don't know what treasure they lost with you, you're a talent equal or possibly surpassing her.' he said with pride. 'Well, I'll inform his majesty ahead of time, be careful on the way home.'
/K~!/
'That, and I'll be stricter with your combat training so you can walk the talk as people expect more of Divine Summoners!'
xxx
The Emperor is anticipating it.
He got news from Principal Cang He about Beiyue's latest development.
Like mother like daughter indeed, he thought with a smile. His sister once commanded the Spirit Deity and now her daughter commands a serpentine-type beast too!
When Beiyue came home a week later...
He felt it.
A sublime presence of qi so thick, but non-hostile that's approaching the city. Naturally, nobody has a clue who, but two people. The Emperor immediately paid Beiyue a visit, and wanting to see her Summon she named Yushe.
His niece is now a Divine Summoner like her mother his heart felt joy. now nobody can disparage her ever again his heart can be at ease. All he has to worry about now, is Yingye.
'I'd want you to help Yingye, but poor girl is manipulated by her despicable mother and maternal grandfather!' Emperor grumbled. 'She's asking me about my fast rise in cultivation all with tell-tale signs she's on behalf of someone else. She's too innocent and trusting.'
'You hate your wife just as how much she hates mother and I.' Beiyue shook her head. 'In all times she sees us, she has a cold glare all the time like she sniffed someone passing gas.' this incensed her uncle. 'Mother never even had anything to do with her other than watch your wedding banquet after she was paraded to the palace in her wedding gown. She hasn't even had interaction because of war when I asked her once what's her deal.'
'That's what boggles my mind.' the Emperor harrumphed. 'Everyone knows and can't hate Huiwen. Every nobleman's son vied for her hand for both her beauty and personality. Then my grandmother and mother married her to that no-good man and that, was why we had difficulties in war against Dongli that I nearly died myself. I captured, held hostage, tortured and poisoned before I got thrown off a cliff.' the two girls sputtered at his tale as they can only imagine it.
'I'm glad sister found me in time...I was 18 when it happened. All because they pissed off all noble families from Marquis to Baron! To add insult to injury, I was forced to marry Mu Shi and she's not even my Concubine when Concubines...fight for their rights for the seat.' he sighed. 'And I never got an explanation why. Those were tough days for the country because of the great-grandqueen and grandqueen that Nanyi nearly collapsed because of massive loss of support other than war. Its mostly well-meaning commoners under your mother's banner who fought and she did most of the bulk work. It helps that she has Miyang's army as she is County Lord of that fief.'
'I see...' Beiyue was amazed with her second mother's history as was Dongling who never knew that side of Princess Royal and the Emperor.
'Something's going on.' Beiyue pinched her nose hard. 'Royalty is supposed to be neutral and doing a balanced act with politics and the grandqueens did those? Something's behind them with a noose on their necks called War. They married you and mother into arrangements that pissed off the nobles, causing the royal family to lose support. All nobles control a fiefdom and with it an army. Causing dissent at a time like that...there has to be a motive, otherwise, no sane royal would ever do what they did. They even pissed off everyone.'
'Sigh, I cleaned up that mess by showing I'm nothing like them and I was absolutely fair and willing to hear everyone's sides, and I never made any hidden deals in my career, things I made sure to teach my children as any one of them can be Crown Prince upon getting older, and I don't want Yingye to end up like your mother.' the Emperor griped gloomily. 'For now, I have a task for you, Yue'er.' Beiyue went attentive at once. 'You already rocked the boat through Dongling, now it's your turn to rock the boat.' he said. 'With your summon, anyone sitting near you will instantly know it's you. And since you're sitting near Yingye...'
'She'll ask questions and I show off Yushe in her small size...and you want to see everyone's reactions.' Beiyue guessed her uncle's intentions. 'Teacher was sneering that everyone was a bunch of fools for writing me off too soon and thanks to that, we can write THEM off as my future husband candidates.' she chuckled. 'And they clearly have no chance with me as I know full well what they think of me. However, I'm not the only issue here...' she said thoughtfully, resting her chin on laced fingers.
'Mm. I want to know their reaction.' said the Emperor with a dark smile. 'And I'll deal with the rest. I am not like the Grandqueens and thanks to you, I'm more powerful than them...but just incase, I need another of your holy ball, in time for the Spring Banquet and train hard with Yushe.'
'Of course. We'll be with teacher. He did say he'll get tougher on me.'
Cang He did just that. He thought her how to fight like a Summoner, and she taught techniques to Yushe which they practiced hard on.
"Too bad I can't have a team of six like a Pokemon Trainer, I'll have to make do with what I got!"
She taught Yushe the skills Growth, Giga Drain, Leaf Blade, Vine Whip, Gastro Acid, Solar Beam, Grass Ball, Brutal Swing and Grass Knot. And got creative with it and spent weeks mastering it with teamwork under her mentor...all in preparation for the coming Spring Banquet.
This is gonna be interesting...