Book 14: Chapter 45
Jingan’s Answer
I had reached towards her valley, but, in the end, I stopped at her collar and asked, “That’s a replica, isn’t it? I’ve seen the Navagraha Star Summoner; it’s much bigger than what you have.”
Jingan gave me small and silent claps. “You’re really smart, Fuma.”
I wasn’t smart… I just couldn’t go ahead with dipping my hands in there. I wasn’t afraid of touching Jin Zhaoying. I just didn’t know how to explain it to Boss afterwards. I couldn’t withhold the incident from Boss, but I couldn’t tell her I had to… remove part of Miss Jin’s garments to retrieve it. If I hadn’t learnt anything after all the times I’d been smacked with the inkstone, there’d be no hope for me. While I was going through all those thoughts, it dawned on me that I had seen that Navagraha Star Summoner before.
“What is so good about Shen Yiren?”
“What sort of question is that?!”
“You’re biased.” Jingan pouted. “You and another woman are hitting it off, yet you won’t let your wife ask you about it? You’re biased.”
As soon as Jingan poked me on the chest, I hurriedly stumbled back. Meanwhile, she was clearly teasing me from the look in her gaze.
“I just don’t want to hurt your self-esteem.”
Don’t blame me for not being considerate now!
“How is she inferior to you in any shape or form? She has a big ch-, magnanimous heart. Look at her, and then look at you. Is she as conniving as you? Has she tried to harm me before? Look at her… She’s sincere, earnest, kind, just and cares for the people. She has goals and dreams she doesn’t give up on. Even though… she’s had a hard life.” I was oblivious to the fact that my voice sounded increasingly tender as I went on. “Despite witnessing her family’s tragic demise with her own eyes, she has continued to strive for higher heights without losing her way. She’s lonely, but there are people who care about her. His Majesty wants to crown her as a Princess, but she chose the toughest path. You can call her foolish, but I b-”
“Stop.” All emotions were gone from Jingan’s face.
“I’m not done yet.”
“Stop. That’s enough.”
The last two words sounded improvised.
Wh-what’s her deal?
“Uh, aren’t you the one who wanted to know?”
Jingan had her brows together for whatever reason, making me feel bewildered, too.
“I’ve heard enough. Wh-why did you say so much?”
“Oh, well, it was your question. What’s the second question. Didn’t you have three questions for me?”
I called Jingan’s name several times, but she seemed to be in another dimension.
“Hey! The second quest-”
“Not asking anymore.”
What?! If you’re going to play hard to get, at least play! What’s the deal with starting and then stopping before you even finish step one?!
“I don’t feel like asking anymore.” Jingan, for the first time in memory, couldn’t control her eye movements for a while. When she moved her gaze back to me, she had her brows knitted together. “I want to sleep now,” she said before reaching around on the bed for a pillow.
“Wait!”
You’ve bewildered me enough! I’m not going to let this end on your terms, too!
“I answered one of your questions, so you should at least answer one of mine!”
Jingan climbed into her blanket and pulled it up to her the top of her lips. “What question?”
I stopped to think. No way was I letting such a rare opportunity slip through my fingers. “Who did you send after me?”
“… Why do you want Navagraha Star Summoner for? You seem to fear Tianhu.”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t be fearful of one of the three strongest?”
“So, he will cause you trouble if he comes back?”
“Not necessarily, although he did say he would.”
“… I heard he wants to test your fighting skills. Is that true?”
“You have spies among Fiends’ Gen-, no, you’re manipulating someone in Fiends’ Genesis, as well? No, no, no, don’t change the topic!”
“Do you want to know the situation in Beiping?”
“You even know what’s happening in Beiping…”
“Ming Suwen marched a force to Sixth Brother’s abode. Six Brother defended his home against the her force of thousands upon thousands of elites with over a thousand of his troops for six days. Ming Suwen planned to infiltrate with a group of elites. No matter who wins, a grudge will be formed.”
I wasn’t worried about Young Shiyi’s safety. I was worried she’d run out of patience and ask Grandmaster to join… Or lie that Blue Prince bullied her to make him give her a hand. Grandmaster was old, but, if he decided to fight, Blue Prince would probably be sent back to the capital as an example, and Mount Daluo would become the biggest threat to the nation.
“Has Tianhu not arrived yet?!”
“He has. Whatever he told her led to Ming Suwen losing her vigour, and she withdrew her troops. Knowing how petty Sixth Brother is, he most likely will try to chase up the matter with Mount Daluo.”
… We’ll cross that bridge comes to it.
Both parties were far apart, so they’d leave me be for now.
“Fuma, do you know what Navagraha Star Summoner is?”
“No.”
“It is an item passed down every generation within Emperor’s Entourage. Navagraha Star Summoner is separated into two parts, with the main part kept safe in the imperial palace.”
I nodded. “There certainly isn’t anyone who could pinch it if he’s guarding it.”
Jingan laughed behind her hand. “You’re so naughty. I had no idea you knew so many things about our family.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“The secondary part is made by every generation’s Tianhu using their own material of choice. The current Tianhu made it out of jade.” Jingan took out the halved piece of jade from under the blanket. “I heard the piece of jade was given to him by the most important person to him, but someone in Beiping snapped it. The person responsible happens to share some semblance to you… I have given you your answer. Please solve it on your own.”