Case 24: “Ignorance is really a Bliss…“

Liu Meifeng descended from the mountain, her mood was as bright as the morning sun, along the way the villagers saw her and they exchanged greetings. On her way to Gu Zhuxuan's tent, she accidentally ran to Tang Cheng'an, "Haoran, where are you going?",

"To the first princess's tent to perform a daily examination on her.", Liu Meifeng's face was clear and her beautiful Aquamarine eyes sparkled like a crystal. No matter how Tang Cheng'an tried to observe her, he couldn't tell if she was lying or not…

"How's the princess's condition?", Tang Cheng'an asked anxiously.

"It is nothing more than due to the rare high-temperature yesterday, the heat caused her a slight migraine and I gave her a pain relief pill yesterday. So, I come to check on her again today.",

"Can I come along with you?", Tang Cheng'an said.

"That's…", "No, I have something important to discuss with Xu Haoran today.",

Before Liu Meifeng could say anything, Gu Zhuxuan already butted in and approached them. Her eyes were focused on Liu Meifeng until it made her scalp become numb. Judging by her expression, it is none other than anger and suspicion. What in the world did she do to offend her again?

"But—", "Cheng'an, please…", Gu Zhuxuan said softly almost in a pleading tone.

Hearing such a gentle tone, who doesn't get their heart softened? Tang Cheng'an reluctantly let Liu Meifeng followed to Gu Zhuxuan's tent alone. Although Tang Cheng'an was curious about what kind of important things did they had to discuss. Is it about the Minotaur? Or do they have another work to improve the village again? Tang Cheng'an sighed and made his way to the training ground.

Meanwhile, since Liu Meifeng entered Gu Zhuxuan's tent. She could feel a fierce glare from Gu Zhuxuan, again, just what did she do to deserve this?

"Haoran, I want you to answer something honestly.", Gu Zhuxuan said solemnly,

Answer something honestly?

Suddenly a thought came to Liu Meifeng's mind, somehow she could already guess what Gu Zhuxuan wanted to ask.

"The princess can ask.", Liu Meifeng answered politely.

Without hesitation, Gu Zhuxuan went straight to her question. "Who exactly are you?",

Yeah, it's just as she guessed…

Liu Meifeng smiled bitterly and she could also guess who told her real identity to Gu Zhuxuan. It's probably the wicked tree fairy who told her last night, after all, Gu Zhuxuan did say she always comes to her tent to give her a gift on the night of her birthday.

"Since the tree fairy already revealed my true identity, I shall no longer tell no lies.", Liu Meifeng took a deep breath and said, "My real name is Liu Meifeng, the daughter of Liu Yongchang and Liu Xiurong, they are the emperor and empress of Qianghai Kingdom. I was a princess for the first two years since I was born, but due to my incurable illness, my parents abandoned me and let Shi—Grandmaster Duan Gen take me in and adopted me as his granddaughter. We don't have any ulterior motives to hide my real gender, it's just hard for a woman to travel, to avoid some inconveniences, Shifu told me to hide my real identity and come up with a new identity. I'm sorry for lying to the princess and everyone in the village about this.", after saying that, Liu Meifeng kowtowed to Gu Zhuxuan.

Gu Zhuxuan was taken aback and hurriedly supported her, "You don't need to bow down to me. Even if you are abandoned by your family, the fact that you came from a royal family won't change. Your status is far higher than me, you shouldn't bow down to me. In fact, I should be the one to pay respect to you.", Gu Zhuxuan did try to guess Liu Meifeng's real identity, but she never expected that she's actually a royal princess from the neighbor's kingdom; guess that explains her rare eye colors. Didn't she mention she had an incurable disease and made her family abandon her? What kind of disease?

"No please don't. I don't want anyone to know my real identity, I hope Your Highness could grant this granddaughter's request.",

"Fine, fine.", Gu Zhuxuan sighed and pitied Liu Meifeng for getting abandoned by her parents. I guess the rumor about the royal family is treacherous and almost had no heart towards their own family members, poor Meifeng…

"So, about this disease...",

"It's due to my mixed-blood.", Liu Meifeng explained about her short lifespan and her struggle to prolong it, she also tells her that Gu Yunxi accidentally heard about her disease, when she was visiting the cottage a few days ago, but she's still had no idea about her true identity.

Now, Gu Zhuxuan finally had some ideas why her fierce younger sister who disliked Liu Meifeng at first, suddenly turned meek and treated her a little better. Regarding Liu Meifeng's struggle to fight for her life. Although Gu Zhuxuan is also a cultivator, her cultivation level isn't high enough to know some high-level spells and others.

"I will try to find an ancient book about this skill, maybe we could do something about this.", Gu Zhuxuan said softly, trying to reassure her.

Liu Meifeng shook her head, "It's not like it's hard to learn, it's just...", "Just...?",

Liu Meifeng hesitated and then finally spoke in shame, "It's just every time I practiced this Spiritual Vision, I... ended up seeing something that normal people couldn't see with naked eyes, and... I got scared.", Liu Meifeng lowered her head, even her face flushed a bit as if she had admitted something embarrassing.

Gu Zhuxuan's eyes flickered, Liu Meifeng looked like a beautiful boy or a handsome woman. But, a girl will always stay as a girl. Even she has this girly side, which made people couldn't help but want to protect this tall and beautiful man in disguise.

Gu Zhuxuan smiled wryly, "Well, I will try to find another way to retrieve this black lotus.",

Liu Meifeng gave a sincere smile, "Thank you." It was the first time she saw her smiling like this. Anybody who has seen her smile just now, whether it's a boy or a girl, they might feel good in their heart.

"Ahem, anyway... What brings you here? But already found a way to restore my memories?", Gu Zhuxuan pretended to be calm, she is truly a beautiful princess.

Liu Meifeng slapped her forehead, "Ah, yes I almost forgot. Shifu had agreed to restore your memories to repent on his mistake.",

Gu Zhuxuan blinked, "What mistake?", "I don't know, but I think it has anything to do with your memory loss and the reason why the tree fairy kept her distance from you."

Remembering their conversation last night, Gu Zhuxuan couldn't help feeling bitter in her heart, she knew there must be someone who deliberately separated them even if they live on the same island, even if it's not too far from where they stand. Gu Zhuxuan didn't expect the culprit to be the referred Grandmaster, but knowing that he hates demons more than other cultivators, perhaps it is not that impossible after all.

Could it be, Jiang Xiang deliberately provoked me last night to stop approaching her and remember the past because she doesn't want me to get involved with the Grandmaster? Knowing that the Grandmaster is way stronger than her, and she's afraid she couldn't protect her when the Grandmaster used his power to separate us again?

The more Gu Zhuxuan thought about it, the more reasonable it is.

Yes, Jiang Xiang never tried to harm me, even that time when we first met, she kindly reminded me about the war with the Minotaur and offered to send her home safely.

After that, they did get along, but Gu Zhuxuan didn't remember how 'far' did they got along and had a mixed feeling whether to find it out or not.

Because Gu Zhuxuan still couldn't figure out her feelings towards the tree fairy, whether it's love or kinship. All Gu Zhuxuan knew is that the demon she named Jiang Xiang is a very important person in this life of hers.

Seeing Gu Zhuxuan looking hesitantly, Liu Meifeng asked, "What's the matter? Didn't you want to remember about the past?",

Gu Zhuxuan went silent for a moment, then gave a low reply, "...I don't know.",

"What are you afraid of?",

"No, it's not like I'm afraid... it's just...",

"Just what?", Liu Meifeng tilted her head and looked very confused.

Gu Zhuxuan lowered her head and rubbed her nose, "I don't know what should I do after remembering everything...",

Are you kidding me? You proposed to that Oak demon publicly in front of the village's gate, and you're still asking that?

Liu Meifeng sighed in distress and patted Gu Zhuxuan's shoulder, "My dear Your Highness, you can think about it later after knowing the whole truth. How can you think of a solution when you don't even know the problem? Don't delay this any longer, or the readers will get angry.",

Gu Zhuxuan didn't answer yes or no, but when Liu Meifeng pulled her out of the tent, she didn't struggle and just followed her. Unfortunately, they ran into the tree fairy who missed Gu Zhuxuan and wanted to see how is she but didn't expect to see her getting pulled by Liu Meifeng out of the tent.

In the tree fairy's eyes, Gu Zhuxuan and Liu Meifeng walked together happily hand-in-hand. Her heart felt scorched and she immediately showed up in front of them.

"Where are you bringing her?", she asked Liu Meifeng but her eyes were focused on Gu Zhuxuan.

Gu Zhuxuan avoided her eyes in embarrassment, but the tree fairy thought she was still angry about last night and kept her distance just as she said.

Liu Meifeng smirked and said casually, "Just going on a date in my cottage. Is there any problem?",

Gu Zhuxuan wanted to correct Liu Meifeng's claim, but Liu Meifeng hinted at her to Cooperate until then she finally understood her intentions and followed along.

"I thought Ms.Xiang doesn't want to interact with me any longer, it's my own business to go with whom and where. Why does Ms.Xiang want to intervene? Unless Ms.Xiang wants to take back what you said last night?", Gu Zhuxuan said with an arrogant smile.

t now, I shall no longer interrupt you.",

Before the two of them said anything, the tree fairy already disappeared in a blink.

After making sure she's gone, Gu Zhuxuan nudged on Liu Meifeng, "Is this the right thing to do? She looked really upset.",

Liu Meifeng winked at her, "Let her be, you can coax her later after remembering everything. Trust me on this one.",

Gu Zhuxuan sighed in relief, "Alright."

Then, the two of them climbed up to the mountain and headed towards the cottage.

....

.....

"So, you've come after all...", Duan Gen said while he sat cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed.

"Aiya, Shifu stop putting on an act like a common wuxia scene and get serious.", Liu Meifeng said unscrupulously.

Duan Gen sighed and stood up, completely ignoring Liu Meifeng talking nonsense. He walked up straight to Gu Zhuxuan, "Before Your Highness said anything, I'd like you to decide on something.",

"What is it?",

Five years ago, when I was still drowning in my own hatred towards the demon race, I put a curse on the Oak demon. If she dared to get along with you to the point of touching you, she will die immediately.",

Gu Zhuxuan widened her eyes, and anger surpassed on her complexion, "Grandmaster, you--", "However...", Duan Gen cut in and said, "I'm willing to undo this curse but if you want me to undo this curse, then I won't be able to restore your memories.",

Gu Zhuxuan frowned hearing it, but she still remained composed and asked politely, "Why is that? Is the referred Grandmaster trying to test me?",

"That's also one of the reasons, but another reason is that I have to reserve my energy to create the Life Pill made from Black Lotus to prolong Haoran's life. I won't lie, to restore your memories requires almost half of my mana, because the seal I put on you to prevent you from remembering things about that demon is an ancient spell. Not all high-level cultivators could even break this seal. That's why I can only grant one of them. Either broke that Demon's curse or restore your memories.", Duan Gen explained.

Liu Meifeng sighed, she really doesn't know what to say. It is related to her lifespan and she had a promise to come back to Zhao Yu. No matter how willing she is to help Gu Zhuxuan, she can't risk her lifespan for this matter. Yet, she doesn't know if Duan Gen is simply lying or actually serious about this. If that's the case, then it is really doomed…

"Undo her curse.", Gu Zhuxuan said without the slightest hesitation.

Duan Gen eyes twitched and asked again, "Are you sure? What about your memories? Don't you want to remember them?",

"I do, but all the memories I lost were related to Jiang—the Oak demon. From the way I see it, we get along pretty well. What's the use of remembering everything if we couldn't go back to the way we used to be?", Gu Zhuxuan said with pride, she does feel sad she couldn't remember everything. But as long as the related person is okay, then she will be good. Besides, even if she couldn't remember the past, she could simply create a new one by reconciling with the tree fairy.

Duan Gen sighed and reluctantly walked outside the cottage, "You've been eavesdropping us, don't you have something to say too?",

A familiar wind blew by and the tree fairy suddenly appeared in front of Duan Gen. She took a single glance at Gu Zhuxuan, then returned to Duan Gen, "Her memories are more important than my life. Don't listen to her and just restore her memories.",

"Jiang Xiang, this is my own choice. You cannot intervene—",

"What you've forgotten is not just our time together… but also the cause of your mother's death."