My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

"Here, drink this soup."

Steam rose from the warm, brownish medicinal soup, its thick herbal aroma rushing straight into one's senses. Zhu E placed the soup in front of her niece.

The color was somewhat reminiscent of the contraceptive soup.

The tall woman did not refuse. Leaning against the bed, she took the bowl with one hand and silently downed the bitter concoction in one gulp.

Zhu E chided playfully, "Slow down, slow down, there's no need to rush."

After drinking the restorative soup that helped regulate her inner energy, Qin Qingluo wiped her lips. The heavy herbal taste reminded her of the contraceptive soup.

"Feeling better?" Even though Zhu E could vaguely perceive it herself, she still wanted to hear Qingluo say it.

"Much better," Qin Qingluo murmured after a contemplative pause.

Her always-heroic brows drooped listlessly, her half-open snake-like pupils filled with an indescribable weariness and distraction. She slouched there on the bed without moving.

She felt an unspeakable exhaustion, yet found it hard to fall asleep.

True Qi disruption—neither simple to resolve nor overtly difficult. Generally, the best remedy was merely rest.

Zhu E watched her, then took the empty bowl from her hands and placed it aside.

At that moment, she suddenly spoke:

"Aunt Zhu, that person said he could completely scatter my martial will."

Confused, Zhu E asked, "What do you mean?"

Qin Qingluo turned her face directly toward Zhu E, her gaze unwavering as she said:

"Aunt Zhu, my martial will… it has always been you.

In other words, he wants to kill you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu E was initially startled, then quickly realized something.

Still unaware of her pregnancy, Qin Qingluo could only imagine one possible scenario—Chen Yi wanting to kill Zhu E.

Masterful in disguise, Zhu E held back a laugh, sighed lightly, and shook her head, saying:

"That man isn't such a person."

"How is he not?" Qin Qingluo's voice carried a tinge of anger. "He refused my requests outright and deliberately sowed discord between us."

"But he did save both of us, after all."

"He has other motives; he merely wants to trap us both within his grasp..."

Qin Qingluo paused at this point and noticed the skepticism in Zhu E's eyes.

Her chest tightened as she let out a bitter laugh, waving her hand dismissively.

"Forget it, best not to mention it anymore."

She didn't sigh heavily to expel her pent-up frustration but slouched against the bed, her gaze falling into emptiness.

When she came back to herself momentarily, she found her hand placed within Zhu E's lap.

Zhu E gently stroked the broad yet finely-jointed hand, her tone cautious as she said:

"Qingluo, do you think... Aunt has been blinded by jealousy and thus doesn't believe you?"

Qin Qingluo froze, utterly unprepared for such direct words from Zhu E.

The red-clad woman reached out at this moment, lightly brushing over Qin Qingluo's disheveled and oversized clothing, applying pressure at a few acupuncture points.

Qin Qingluo didn't resist, nor was she capable of doing so. Immobilized by the acupuncture, her entire body was fixed upon the bed.

Confused, she looked at Zhu E, who then spoke slowly:

"I've blocked your points because of what's to come. Aunt won't harm you."

Qin Qingluo didn't reply; it seemed like a tacit acceptance.

Zhu E continued:

"Your elder sister entrusted you to me initially, asking me to care for you, and cautioned me not to be too detached nor overly invested. But alas, I couldn't manage the latter.

From the moment I saw you, I liked you dearly. You felt just like my own daughter. Whatever you desired, I wanted to fulfill it for you. Knowing you couldn't find a master for your blade skills, I stole the spear manual from home. Knowing you were afraid at night alone, I snuck in every evening and left only when you fell asleep. Later, as you grew taller than most men, I sewed you undershirts with my own hands—you chafed against the poor stitching at first, and I felt guilty for a long time.

All these years, I have no remorse in my heart."

Qin Qingluo listened silently. Her tear-meared snake-like pupils began to overflow. Over all these years, whenever she had been isolated and alone, the first person she thought of was Zhu E. She knew—even if age one day caused her to forget everyone—she would never forget this red-clad woman.

No matter the storms faced, even when close blood betrayed with greed for a throne, Zhu E remained by her side.

"Do you remember the morning after your wedding, when we went to Old Lord Temple to pray and offer sacrifices?" Zhu E asked.

Amidst the wedding's crimson splendor—red bridal robe, red silk, red-dyed eggs—the temple stood as one untainted scenery of beauty amidst worldly red. Of course, Qin Qingluo remembered.

Seeing her nod, Zhu E continued:

"Do you also remember the fortune that old Taoist predicted?"

Qin Qingluo faltered, her lips quivering, and after a long while finally replied:

"That… was nothing more than a wandering charlatan."

Zhu E shook her head lightly and said, "The Breaking Army Star enters the spouse palace; the marriage is empty in name and real in heart."

At the grand wedding at the An Nan Royal Mansion, gold and red double happiness banners hung everywhere; countless guests were invited. Yet the Taoist from Old Lord Temple went against the festivity and delivered this ominous prophecy. Though the words painfully matched the truth, no household member would dare to leave things unresolved.

Back then, the Prince of Annan, ordinarily ignoring divine and supernatural matters, ordered the Old Lord's statue destroyed in fury.

In the years that followed, Qin Qingluo saw no apparent consequences and gradually let go of the unpleasant incident. If not for Zhu E bringing it up today, she might have forgotten entirely.

When Zhu E saw Qin Qingluo's realization set in, she calmly continued:

"Aunt didn't take it seriously either—until recently, when I encountered a Taoist nun who offered to read a fortune for you. Upon seeing the results… suddenly everything fell into place."

Qin Qingluo didn't know when Zhu E had met this nun, but her tone revealed a bitter sorrow. Tears slid down her cheeks.

What Aunt Zhu had said carried a sense of farewell.

Tears slipped down her broad shoulders, gliding between her collarbone.

It seemed exactly as she suspected when Zhu E touched her hand, lifted it, and reached toward her own hair.

With her niece's hand, the red-clad woman pulled out the wedding hairpin.

The snake-eyed queen's pupils widened gradually, her lips trembling, but no sound escaped.

It was the hairpin given to her personally by this woman.

Crafted with white jade in the shape of osmanthus blossoms, the flower's pistil was adorned with pigeon blood-red gemstones. Their vividness pricked the eyes, like droplets of heart's blood.

Looking at the hairpin, Zhu E gazed at it for what seemed an eternity, as though reluctant to part.

Softly, she spoke, "To marry into the An Nan Royal Mansion, Aunt has always been willing, and even felt fortunate. To be the Princess An Nan—it's so glorious! When your elder sister returned home for her marriage, the family decorated brightly for days—I envied her so much back then. Never did I expect that I could have this as well."

Her voice grew gentler, "In fact, I am even luckier than your sister. The old prince favored concubines, yet I had you. Since you took the throne and became the Prince, you have always treated me so well—I've known it in my heart. And with your valor and achievements, swiftly putting all threats to rest, I couldn't help but think—how can I ever fancy another man?"

As she spoke tenderly, Qin Qingluo heard only deep sorrow. Grief swelled in her chest, leaving her unable to say anything for a long time.

Placing the hairpin into Qin Qingluo's palm, Zhu E's gaze overflowed with reluctance.

"Qingluo, we are no longer husband and wife."

Qin Qingluo didn't move. After a long while, tears unexpectedly streamed down her cheeks.

Choked, she asked:

"Are you… leaving?"

She didn't even know how she managed to voice the question. Only when the words came out did she realize the truth.

No stabbing pain in her heart—only a tightly wound ache, dull and pulsing. Even if her acupuncture points hadn't been sealed, she would still lie immobilized on the bed.

Faced with her question, Zhu E instead smiled charmingly and replied:

"Who said Aunt is leaving?"

Qin Qingluo froze in astonishment.

Pointing at the hairpin, Zhu E softly explained:

"This hairpin was always meant for the main wife… you should save it for your future main wife."

Qin Qingluo didn't understand, but Zhu E's mere choice to stay was enough to turn her sorrow to joy. She silently accepted the hairpin and placed it close to her chest without saying a word, fearing her comments might provoke Zhu E into changing her mind.

Zhu E gazed tenderly at her niece for a long time before taking a deep breath, as though preparing for something.

Slowly, she removed the golden hairpin from Qin Qingluo's hair, carefully placing it into her own pocket.

Watching this unfold, Qin Qingluo was still confused.

Then, Zhu E took hold of Qin Qingluo's hand once more, guiding it to touch her own hair.

The soft sound of movement revealed a silver hairpin being removed. Zhu E pressed it tightly into Qin Qingluo's palm before attaching it to her niece's hair.

Once completed, Zhu E tilted her head away, refusing to look decisively.

She remembered him saying once that the woman he loved most wore silver hairpins.

Never gold.

So perhaps, by giving this to her niece—he might love Qingluo a little more.

She thought silently but nonetheless refused to turn back. Instead, her grip on Qin Qingluo's hand tightened, each finger pressing firmly.

This pin—because she cared too much, she kept gazing at it.

But this other one—because she couldn't bear it, she couldn't bring herself to look even once.

"Qingluo, Aunt is a wicked woman—she has deceived you, deceived him, and even deceived herself."

Softer now, Zhu E murmured:

"He thinks Aunt was consumed by jealousy toward you, bearing resentment. But inexplicably… aside from jealousy, Aunt felt joy at that moment…"

Qin Qingluo widened her eyes slightly, as if uncertain she had heard her words correctly.

A tear slipped down the red-clad woman's cheek.

"Such joy, such joy,

Perhaps… Aunt truly cares for you."

Qin Qingluo didn't know what to say; her thoughts caught in her throat, unable to form words. All she could do was listen.

Zhu E released Qin Qingluo's hand, slowly rising and extinguishing the candle, leaving the room enveloped in dimness.

"That fortune-telling—it's here."

From the folds of her robe, she produced a slip of paper and placed it before Qin Qingluo.

Finally, she turned away, her back toward the crowned woman:

"This is the last night, Qingluo. Truthfully, Aunt always wanted to…

But as you've said before—whatever's good, Aunt always lets you have it first.

This time, too, it will be the same."

Qin Qingluo saw that the slip of paper bore crisp strokes that read:

In the spouse palace, the Sun transforms into affliction; a marriage exists only in substance, not in name.