Chapter 6

Chapter 6

One ruler, one queen, three Ladies, nine Consorts, and twenty-seven Lesser Ladies.

Aside from Lady Tan, I was the second woman Lord Wei had elevated to the rank of Lady-and I was a lowly slave besides.

Naturally, the entire State of Qi was in an uproar.

The loudest voice of censure belonged to Crown Prince Jie.

But before they could argue the matter to any conclusion, the Duke of Qi suddenly fell gravely ill and could not rise from his bed.

Rumors swept through court and countryside alike, claiming he had secretly left behind an Edict in the Robe. For a time, speculation ran wild.

Lord Wei was ambitious by nature, and of course he coveted the seat of the Duke of Qi. Unfortunately, his claim lacked both name and right. This time, the usually timid Crown Prince Jie proved unusually forceful. He even sealed off the Duke of Qi’s bedchamber and refused to allow Lord Wei inside to visit him.

Through every anxious, agonizing moment, I was the one serving at Lord Wei’s side. Because of that, he gradually came to rely on me. In fact, no matter where he went, he would bring me with him.

Even to court.

From then on, whispers began to spread through the court that I was an enchantress.

Late winter. The Great Cold.

The old Duke of Qi passed away, and obituaries flew to every state like snowflakes.

That very day, Crown Prince Jie ascended the throne and became the Young Duke of Qi. Seven days later, envoys from the various states arrived one after another in Linzi, the capital of the State of Qi, to attend the funeral rites. Yet during the memorial ceremony, Crown Prince Jie suddenly became unwell, and Lord Wei presided in his stead.

When night fell, the envoys took their seats one after another.

The nobles of Chu and Qin sat in the front row. Seeing me seated at Lord Wei’s side, they looked utterly astonished. “This… this world actually holds such a peerless beauty?”

Lord Wei smiled. “This beauty is none other than the Divine Maiden.”

Only after listening to their murmurs did I learn that, all because of one casual remark Lord Fuyong had made back then, the people of Qi had taken the opportunity to claim I did not partake of mortal food, but ate only flower petals. Thus, I had become the Flower-Eating Enchantress.

For that reason, there were no cups, dishes, or meat courses set before me. Instead, the entire table was covered with petals of every color.

At the sight, everyone clicked their tongues in wonder.

As wine cups were being raised and passed around, someone suddenly swept his gaze over the hall and asked, puzzled, “Strange. This is the Duke of Qi’s funeral rite, so why is Lord Fuyong nowhere to be seen?”

That, one might say, opened the floodgates.

After that, the envoys below began clamoring to see the virtuous lord of rumor, paying no mind at all to Lord Wei’s steadily darkening expression.

“Brother Fuyong is likely still traveling abroad at this very moment.” Lord Wei tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Since his youth, he has wandered among the feudal lords, setting his ambitions on the art of alliances and diplomacy. Naturally, a small State of Qi like ours would not be enough to catch his eye.”

At his words, the crowd exchanged looks.

And yet, the situation he had so confidently expected took an unexpected turn.

All at once, from beyond the palace gates, the announcer’s shrill voice pierced the dim haze and surged in wave after wave into the depths of the palace precincts.

“Lord Fuyong of Qi has arrived!”