Chapter 12: The True Perfect White Moonlight

“Look, doesn't it look just like it?” Cheng Qingli handed over her phone with great enthusiasm. “This calligraphy was written by Princess Yongning in the 58th year of the Qianhe era. She was twelve at the time. Emperor Ningzhao praised her as being brilliantly talented, possessing the aura of a Sage of Calligraphy, no less than the Great Ancestor of years past.”

According to historical records, in order to cultivate Princess Yongning, Emperor Ningzhao mobilized the entire civil and military bureaucracy of Great Ning to form an unprecedentedly powerful team to teach her the Six Arts of a gentleman, imperial statecraft, strategies for governing a nation, and the ways of a monarch, assisting her in her ascent to the throne.

In addition, Princess Yongning was also proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

However, before she could ascend the throne, the princess—who was originally frail and sickly—died during a great plague due to overwork, at the age of only seventeen.

“Oh, my deceased, perfect, and charming 'White Moonlight' ancestor...” Cheng Qingli’s eyes welled with tears.

Just as she was preparing to conduct a detailed comparison of the handwriting, she saw Ye Wanlan tear the rice paper to shreds, lift her hand, and toss it into the trash can.

Cheng Qingli panicked: “Sister Lan, why did you throw it away?”

Ye Wanlan said nonchalantly, “It’s poorly written. It’s boring.”

Cheng Qingli was stunned: “Poorly written?”

Then what counted as good?!

Although she was an amateur, she had seen so much that she understood the basics.

Those twelve characters appeared to be written casually, yet the foundation was extremely profound; she must have been trained by a master.

“Let’s not talk about the calligraphy,” Ye Wanlan smiled. “Qingli, I am happy that you can trust me. I am very aware of how others have perceived me over these past four years.”

The transmigrator had used her body to do too many things that destroyed her dignity, and combined with the oppression from several scions of the Jiang social circles, she had been pushed almost to the brink.

The transmigrator could simply walk away lightly and find another body to continue her carefree life, but she could not.

Cheng Qingli froze, stammering, “I... I’m at a loss for words, but Sister Lan, from the first moment I saw you, I felt you were inexplicably trustworthy!”

Ye Wanlan raised an eyebrow.

Cheng Qingli cleared her throat. “But Sister Lan, I am still very curious about you and Young Master Zhou...”

“The stand-in agreement was real, and the fact that I sent him several long, pleading messages was also real,” Ye Wanlan said unhurriedly. “But in the life that belongs only to me from now on, he does not exist.”

Cheng Qingli hadn't expected her to speak so candidly and was momentarily dazed. “Sister Lan, you...”

“Gossip over. We meet tomorrow at 7:30 sharp. Don't be late.” Ye Wanlan checked the time. “I’m leaving now. If you like calligraphy, I’ll write one for you another day when I’m free.”

Cheng Qingli’s eyes sparkled. “Sister Lan, I love you so much!”

“Exercise some restraint. Don't love me too much.” Ye Wanlan stood up and walked out the door.

She did not leave immediately, but instead leaned against the wall at the corner, took out her phone, and searched for "Princess Yongning." Countless related results popped up.

She hadn't expected that she could return to Shenzhou, and even to the Shenzhou of three hundred years later.

Seeing her former self in an encyclopedia entry was a strange sensation.

During the 999 years of the time loop, she had read every book written about her and watched every film, TV show, and variety program featuring her.

Some said that as a woman, she had entered the Eastern Palace and secured the position of heir, deserving the title of peerless and incomparable.

Others said it was fortunate she died early, otherwise, wouldn't the world have fallen into chaos if it were governed by a woman?

There were praises and criticisms alike, but she did not care.

With a calm expression, Ye Wanlan drove away, soon vanishing into the dark night.

***

At this time, at the Zhou family ancestral home.

Zhou Hechen had just returned from the company, his brow etched with deep fatigue. “Mother.”

“Hechen, I know you are busy, but President Quan arrives in Jiang City the day after tomorrow. This cooperation is very important to us; you must secure it.” Madam Zhou sighed. “You must show the other party our sincerity.”

The Zhou Group was involved in many business sectors, primarily the entertainment industry and the healthcare sector.

However, business was becoming increasingly difficult, and the Zhou Group had entered a period of stagnation, urgently needing to find a new breakthrough.

“Don't worry,” Zhou Hechen smiled faintly. “I know the importance of this matter. I prepared all the materials for this negotiation a long time ago.”

Madam Zhou said indifferently, “You said the same thing last time, and what happened? You changed your mind at the last minute and ran off to the Starman Federation Empire to celebrate someone's birthday!”

It wasn't that she disliked Sheng Yunyi; among all the socialites in the Jiang circles, if Sheng Yunyi was second, no one dared to be first.

The Sheng family had also been prominent in recent years, nearly on par with the Zhou family.

If the two families could marry, it would be a powerful alliance, which Madam Zhou was very willing to see. But she truly could not stand seeing Zhou Hechen abandon serious business for the sake of Sheng Yunyi.

“Mother, didn't we end up getting that contract in the end?” Zhou Hechen said helplessly. “It was Yunyi's twenty-fourth birthday, her zodiac year. How could I possibly miss it?”

Madam Zhou gave a slight huff and said no more.

“Young Master, Mr. Xu Lu and Mr. Xu Li have come to see you. It seems to be an urgent matter,” Butler Zhou said, hurrying over.

Zhou Hechen snapped back to reality. “Let them in directly.”

Butler Zhou hesitated but followed orders.

“Zhou Hechen, you’ve really outdone yourself!” Xu Lu entered the hall, his voice booming. “Do you see my nose? It was smashed by that cheap imitation you’re keeping! I tried to be kind and offer her a job, but instead, she dumped me. Just how do you teach her manners?”

Zhou Hechen frowned, his tone cold. “What madness are you acting out?”

“I’m acting mad?” Xu Lu let out a mocking laugh. “Knowing that you, the Second Young Master Zhou, are too busy to be reached by phone, I had to come in person. Speak—how are you going to compensate me?”

“Brother Hechen, my brother is very angry today,” Xu Li explained cautiously. “During the day, Ye Wanlan entered his private booth and nearly broke my brother's nose with her high heel, and she even swindled him out of four hundred thousand.”

Madam Zhou's smile finally vanished. “Hechen, what is going on?”

Zhou Hechen pressed his brow and exhaled slowly.

He truly did not know where Ye Wanlan got the audacity to provoke not only the Qin family but now the Xu family as well.

Xu Lu was quite wild in their circle, known for drinking and fighting.

Once, because someone had provoked him, he had directly smashed the person's head with a wine bottle and simply settled it with money afterward.

Even he would not engage in a direct conflict with Xu Lu.

“Mother, I will handle it.” Zhou Hechen’s expression was also grim.

Madam Zhou gave a faint response.

“Fine, I’ll see how you handle it,” Xu Lu sneered. “Auntie Zhou, then I won't disturb you further.”

He dragged Xu Li along and followed Zhou Hechen to the study.

“Madam, this time it was the Young Master's little lover who caused the trouble,” Butler Zhou whispered. “Now that Miss Yunyi has returned, she still seems unable to distinguish reality. She doesn't actually intend to enter the Zhou family doors, does she?”

Sheng Yunyi was the bright moon in the sky; how could the glow of a firefly compete with her?

Madam Zhou took an elegant sip of tea. “I know. That girl surnamed Ye is nothing but a beautiful face with no brains, but her advantage is that she is easy to manipulate.”

She was accustomed to women like Ye Wanlan—from the lower classes, yet delusional enough to think they could squeeze into high society through marriage.

Zhou Hechen was to inherit the Zhou family in the future; he could play around with her, but marriage was absolutely impossible.