Living Anew

After Beiyue's revenge on the Xiao Clan and her so-called fiancee...

She and Dongling were taken to the Royal Palace to recuperate.

Dongling's tale spanned four years of malnutrition and potential infection cases, so the girls were dosed with antibiotics and the Emperor 'pulled out what he could' to treat them both.

He had also cleaned up a courtyard for their use, but Beiyue requested their own kitchen and pantry, unable to trust the Imperial Kitchens. With good reason.

'Awww, how come we're not living in milady's former home?' Dongling wondered as the girls settled down in their new courtyard, Springfield Courtyard.

'Well, now that mother's gone, Aunt Xihe is now eldest princess.' said Beiyue. 'She is now Princess Royal. That's not our home any more.'

There are designated residences for Emperor, Empress Dowager and Empress, Crown Prince and Princess Royal. Other prince and princesses can use whatever as long as its classy enough for a royal.

There are many residences for royal children. But due to ahem, infighting for a decorated chair and the power behind it, Fratricide and Sororicide is the norm, Yan would tell Beiyue to her disgust.

'So my surviving cousins are Jing, Zhanye, Renli, and Yingye.' they were all fathered by the Emperor. She, a royal through a princess, is out of the running for the throne and she likes it that way, not wanting bullshit in her life. She's had her fill of it way too much.

'When you put it that way, it's good you're born to Princess Royal.' Dongling gulped at the notion. 'Being an Emperor's Child would make you die at a young age.'

'Yeah, dodged an arrow there!' Beiyue laughed. 'Anyway, let's get busy.' she said, going serious. 'After what you told me last night...I found a few incriminating things.'

Yan thought so what if you know the toughest sorcery in the land? Psychokinesis can bypass it by simply damaging the location behind a barrier.

Maria's specialty is Matter Manipulation and Flying. The former made it easy as pie for her and as revenge to her mother's murderer, she created a large blood clot and a lot of plaque in the queen's cardiac system as revenge for her mother's murder. That way, her mother's killer, Mu Mixin who was Marquis Jing'an will no longer have power over the Huang Family.

The queen was said to have had a Heart Attack that caused the palace in a tizzy and died. Her body was autopsied.

'The queen is very fond of very rich food and she hasn't done much exercising even if she remained slim through cosmetic pills.' said the doctor. 'I found a large blood clot near her heart and her arteries have a lot of plaque, causing high-blood pressure if she ever gets excited without her knowing, but she's known for a cool head, which actually protected her from hypertension. She's not poisoned at all and I tried everything to make sure she wasn't.' he said. 'This is natural causes.'

The Emperor remained cold-hearted over the matter as anyone with a brain knows how he felt about his Empress and father-in-law. Especially his own mother. But he allowed National Mourning Period for her if only for his children. But he clearly didn't give a damn about the woman and he made that clear. The situation was complicated and he was bitter for years, that he openly doted on his other wives more out of spite.

Just like with the Xiao Family upon Princess Royal's death, the Mu Family are no longer Imperial Family as Zhanye and Yingye are Huangs by birth. Thus the Mus cannot cling onto them.

Families only gain Imperial Status, as long as Concubines gave the Emperor a child. But its the wives who help her clan tether that status to her clan and the benefits that came with it, not her children who are royal by birth. And as the royal family are the most high-statused family in any country, no matter who a princess' husband is, their child are royal by birth thus take their royal mother's name. But if a princess marries a royal prince or emperor, her child will naturally, take on their father's name.

Example to this, is Princess Huang Beiyue whose father is the disgraced Xiao Yuancheng.

Mu Mixin was upset that his daughter died but his family now lost its imperial status, but laws are laws. And the Dowager isn't around to deal with that as her son the Emperor, is naturally cold-hearted towards him and stubborn as a mule, even when he was young.

And now, anyone who speaks ill of Huang Beiyue dies by wilting to death. Anyone dumb enough, making people think Princess Royal's ghost is out for revenge, fed up with her daughter's mistreatment and abuse she must have left heaven to watch over her daughter was universal belief. The many maids around the palace, wilted to their deaths, and in turn, the skinny and stunted girls rejuvenated and got healthier as well as taller.

A lot of people has seen Xue Che literally lose his family jewels to Princess Royal's ghost and crushed it in her hands. He's now infertile, who'd marry him now? The Xue Family thus has another Anguo Gongzi installed out of necessity for survival of the family who was second best to Xue Che. This man is Xue Che's cousin Xue Hong and now lives in the Main Capital Mansion with his uncle and cousins.

A lot of people wondered what warranted THAT from her. What, did he do, other than Princess Royal saying her daughter didn't deserve him for a husband, and took away his fertility? He's as good as a Eunuch now! Girls once flocked to him in school, now deserted him when winter break ended. One: he offended a vengeful ghost and two, he's 'not productive anymore'! He lost influence in school. Xue Meng, his cruel sister who once rode on his coattails so she can get away with her antics, now found herself with judgmental eyes now that her 'power' is gone.

As for Huang Beiyue, she had Dongling read the cookbooks she obtained and study those recipes, while she, under Yan's guidance, began to study martial arts and where her education left off of, while she began cultivating en masse, devouring enough ki just to be a Bronze-Class Warrior, and 'steps away' to Silver Class C in her current cultivational strength. They also exchanged witty banter at times.

'Miss, you're practicing martial arts?' Dongling croaked out. And somehow there's vitality in her body now?

'Yeah...whether I like it or not, now that I'm healthy again, I'll be made to go to Lingyang School.' Beiyue frowned. 'I need the ability to defend myself at least.' she said. 'So far, with mother's money and my skills, I can get us valuable herbs to supplementing our bodies. What's left is cultivation now.' she said. 'Dongling, re-train your body when not doing chores, and cultivate. For now, those jerks bought you a lot of time that the most you do is cook and the weekly laundry. Let's take advantage of it.'

'Yes!' Dongling nodded in determination.

'Let's get busy.' Beiyue raised her arms, and gathering ki en masse to their yard, and gathering it as a ball of concentrated power to Dongling. 'That power there is enough to enter Silver Class C. Absorb it all carefully and after that, re-train your body. We've got a long night ahead of us.'

'Yes!'

'I'll be back in time for dinner. It'll be a while before we can eat normally again.'

And Beiyue vanished before Dongling's eyes.

'Milady...she must be teaching miss...and only missy can hear her now...' Dongling croaked out, arms around the ball of power Beiyue gave her. "Alright, I have to get better too! And to think to reach Silver Class C, we must spend an obscene amount of money we don't even have..."

And now, without spending a single iron coin, she can reach Silver Class C.

xxx

Floating Light Forest...

Nanyi Country is a little poor in terms of ki in the air. Yan told her. Silver Class A is achievable by kids your age in the north, and by age fifteen Gold Class A is achievable. By the time they are twenty, cultivators are War Gods already. In terms of Summoning, they are all Divine-Class monsters in strength. In terms of being Enchanters, they are Sorcerer Classes. That is the difference between north and south.

Knowing the luck that being Huiwen's daughter brings, you have to do better at age twelve alone. Since you're pursuing Enchanting, you must be a Magus in terms of strength before you step into school. And keep on cultivating. Sure, the drain of the prison is a mere mouthful of water in amount, but take note that amount is consumed every hour. That's a significant amount if you total it all up.

Because Akizuki Maria wields psychokinesis like everyone does in Kamisu 66, she wasn't much of a fighter, that she was akin to a baby learning how to crawl by conditioning her body before she learns basic skills. For now, she must amass enough power to enter the Enchanter Course in Lingyang School.

There are many levels in Enchanting. There are classes with four sub-levels each.

Warlock

Sorcerer

Magician

Archmagus

Magus

Conjurer

Adept

Apprentice

Beiyue has a lot to skip!

As her cultivation is now, she's a Silver Class C but in the equivalent of an Enchanter, she's ten steps away from becoming an Adept. Not good enough!

'This poor kid suffered stupidly-immense expectations...and when she can't fulfill it, she was demonized by everyone.' Beiyue said darkly. 'Yan, now that I managed to cultivate, I will recover what I lost through resting?'

Unlikely. Unless I leave this body, the drain will not stop. This sorcery will continue feeding for maintenance.

'Well, shit. Come up with a way to leave without me dying afterward.' Beiyue requested. 'I want to live past seventeen years old this time. And...keep my family this time around.'

...well, we'll have to work together for that to be plausible. For now, strengthen yourself for the beginner's goal of living past your death.

Beiyue spends her day cultivating in Floating Light Forest where ki is a lot richer, while crushing to death the countless bugs that come near her.

She works hard every day.

Beiyue had a lot to talk to Yan about regarding things she can and can't do, and what the adults in Kamisu 66 can do.

Yan came from the north...thus the girls learn Beiyao techniques. Not Nanyi techniques. Dongling works to master each technique she was 'taught', whenever Beiyue imprints on her the knowledge using cantus.

By the time of Spring Banquet, three months since killing all her enemies and attacking Marquis Jing'an directly through his daughter, she was a Magus Class 1 when she returns home from the forest, carrying precious herbs with her, when she felt a presence not far from her.

It was small...

But powerful.

That it made her seem a dwarf compared to it.

...how small?

'Like the palm of my hand...must be some powerful herb that should be of use to us. I'm getting it!' said Beiyue in determination as she flew in that direction, finding herself in a deep ravine full of ice. 'Er...?'

A powerful ice beast must have dropped by. In any case, it's long gone. so Beiyue descended into the ravine, and used cantus to disintegrate the rock and soil to reach her prize.

It was a black, carved jade only a cantus user can make, due to how detailed the carvings are on this piece of thing. And Yan sounded strangled.

HOW THE HELL IS THAT HERE?!

'...something you know?' Beiyue waved the item before her eyes as Yan sees what she sees.

Its made by the greatest sorcerer. Oh, and might I mention he's the bastard who stuck me in your gut? Yan snarked sarcastically, making Beiyue choke at the revelation. That jade is called Boundless Beast. The fruit of his prowess. In it is where his life's work is. It'll be useful to you but we'll have to find a way first. For non-owners, we can only access the massive ki within. But upon becoming its owner...you'll have access to his knowledge. That's the tough part. We don't know the conditions to make it recognize you as it's master.

'And that, will be our project while I work hard on magic,' Beiyue swore.

Exactly. For now, you have to prepare for school. You need at least, knowledge to get by the exams after the Spring Banquet. Oh yes...never trust anyone with this precious secret. Yan warned. Its a coveted item. You'll be inviting your very death if you do. Don't trust even Dongling with this secret. Keep to yourself or you'll die.

'Right, this thing can wait.' Beiyue used a summoning spell to hide the jade in her Summon Space, a basic technique all Summoners worth their salt know. 'Its that bad if anyone knows I have a hot potato, huh...? I'll focus on Nanyi Sorcery for now. Where is this guy from?'

The north.

'That means spells here are also from the North as well as his own unique brand. People will think I have northern connections and that'll land me a Court Martial.' Beiyue snorted coldly. 'I better focus on the Admissions Exams and a few spells any twelve year old should know...'

xxx

The Palace...Springfield Courtyard...

'It's been months now miss, I'll begin cleaning tomorrow for a week straight.' said Dongling. She is now officially a Silver Class C Warrior in both ki and skill. She both knows hand-to-hand, and sword techniques of Bronze and Silver levels, as well as basic and supplementary techniques all children should know. That was a lot to catch up on. She thought she's learning Nanyi techniques...when in reality she's not...

'Alright. My dress should be delivered tonight.' said Beiyue. 'On my specifications. Tonight's the night things will also go weird and hopefully, nothing crazy happens.'

'Yeah...that.' Dongling squeaked.

Since the death of Empress Mu Shi, her ascension broke all traditions that got many clans angry and in turn, and Empress Dowager never explained why such a decision was made, caused problems when war happened and as a result, Princess Royal gained her reputation of fighting wars almost by herself...

And now, the Emperor could do things legally now that his mother isn't around to 'break tradition unexplained' again. Things were crazy this spring and someone came on top eventually. However, even if she becomes Empress, her son is never a Crown Prince.

In a world where martial arts is everything, the strongest prince is therefore Crown Prince. And that's Zhanye.

Nothing can change that, unless the other princes get stronger than him.

And that is a tall order even then.

The current Empress is now Li Xianmei, daughter of Yunnan Gong, Li Xianren. This time, the Concubines had a fair fight for the right to be Empress. She bore a son whom she lost in the palace infighting for sons to become Princes by reaching the age of six. Only THEN are they acknowledged children of the Emperor. Princesses are far luckier.

She bore three sons, all of whom killed by assassins disguised as midwives sent her way and nobody knows how they do it, to her chagrin.

Her debut will be announced this Spring Banquet. She's now the legal mother of the other royal children sired by the Emperor. They answer to her first, their own mothers second as per law. For Beiyue, she's her legal aunt-by-law. And maybe now she can bear children without them being murdered as soon as they're born.

Come to think of it, its also Beiyue's first official debut.

Truthfully, she should have debuted last year. She was a winter baby so she was twelve then and months later, the Spring Banquet. But alas, she was bedridden by poison...now that she's well, rejuvenated and beautiful.

She had a dress in mind, and imprinted what she wants on the Royal tailor through Cantus, and she had to go to the Emperor's Quarters, well, just his garden really, as his daughters and wives are there to get the best stuff before the others can.

'Beiyue, you're...here...' many eyes bulged as they can feel how powerful Beiyue is now.

There are types of cultivation level based on chosen profession. One can tell what they pursued by the feel of their cultivation. Thus they all know Beiyue pursued sorcery as her field, and her strength is something achievable by an adult by their thirties!

'Beiyue, you can cultivate now?' Yingye's eyes widened, as Yingye is a three-star Summoner in strength, and possesses Silver Class skills.

For years, Beiyue could not cultivate which was why she suffered a lot.

'...the poison is gone.' and with it gone, she can finally cultivate!

But her strength is absurd, she was only cured just recently wasn't she?! Where she is now, it'll take YEARS to achieve! Its not anything a twelve year old can easily achieve in a few weeks!

And so...

'Yue, how did this happen?' the Emperor croaked out, shaken as he called her to his office. 'Your level isn't something accomplishable in a few months...even Principal Cang He took till age 45 to reach your current status!'

'...its something only people who's a step into one's grave can achieve.' said Beiyue. 'For four years, such is my situation...that after mother cured me, cultivation became stupidly easy I don't even need supplements anymore. That's how I personally feel at least. I might as well be almost a ghost so spirit energy comes easy to me. I doubt people who's not close to death like myself can do that.'

She was bullshitting around of course.

'Well, humans are greedy. Particularly people of this world.' Beiyue chuckled with a rather morbid humor in her voice. 'One slip...and they die for real.'

Naturally in no time flat, gossip spread after shopping for accessories and jewelry.

Yingye told her brother and the Empress and Concubines mailed their families about the changes in the girl who was once, the known Loser Princess...and in a span of weeks, achieved what most people in Nanyi achieve by their mid fifties if they all took Enchanting as an occupation.