The improved female villains regained their memories.

In the first month, it didn't even know how to read.

By the third month, it was no different from a human, except that it could not understand human emotions.

So the princess brought it many books, and in her spare time, she would share with it the things she experienced throughout the day.

Therefore, it is only natural that it raised its own questions.

What is a person?

What kind of emotions should people have?

Chapter 646 I So Thirst

The sound of chopping wood echoes, birdsong fills the air. Emerging from the secluded valley, they migrate to the taller trees. They sing sweetly, seeking the voices of their companions. Even those birds seek the voices of their friends. How much more so should we, as humans, seek the company of others? May the gods hear our plight, and ultimately bring harmony and peace! — *The Book of Songs*, *Minor Odes*, "The Deer Cry"

"There are many reasons why we ended up like this, and I don't even know the original reason," he said to Jiang Mochang. "But no matter what, we've come this far."

The best of friends have completely broken ties and become mortal enemies.

The haunting sound of the zither could only echo in memory from then on; no one could ever again respond to Yang Pingsheng's music or dance with him.

If we meet again, it will only be to face each other with swords drawn.

I wish you dead, just as you wish me dead.

I will still feel sorrow for you, but I also sincerely wish you were dead, just as I sincerely begged God to let you live.

Jiang Mo often asked, "You told me what Ye Buxin's true form looks like, but have you ever thought about how she viewed your relationship with her in the beginning?"

Yang Pingsheng replied, "I thought about it before, but I don't anymore."

That's how annoying relationships are... When things are good, you think about everything, but once things break down, no matter how much you reminisce or make excuses, all that can be stirred up is hatred.

Their relationship has developed a huge rift, a rift that can no longer be repaired.

But because of Jiang Mochang's words, he still subconsciously wondered how Ye Buxin had come to understand feelings so long ago.

Where does her obsessive pursuit of platonic friendships come from?

-------------

Life in the Chu royal palace wasn't very enjoyable, especially for the princess, who had to learn a lot of etiquette from a young age.

But Princess Wang was not a person who liked etiquette. She liked to talk, read books, and study all sorts of useless things.

What she likes most is having someone by her side.

And so, it was born.

At first, it had no physical form, but its essence was the same as that of the princess, so it learned things very quickly. In just one day, it learned to speak and developed facial features.

As time went on, it began to resemble a human.

Princess Wang had no friends, so she could only talk to it, saying many, many things.

"I'm so lonely. There's no one in the palace to talk to. You're all I have," she complained to it. "If only someone could be my confidant."

"A confidante?" It looked at the princess, recalling the story of Bo Ya breaking his zither.

So it asked, "What is a true friend?"

“A true confidant, a true confidant should be someone who understands you and has a deep friendship, right?” Wang Ji thought for a moment and said, “True confidants are rare. After all, people are diverse, and everyone has different perspectives and experiences, so it is destined to be difficult for them to understand each other.”

It brought up the story it had seen last time and asked, "Were they close friends?"

"Ah~ you've read this story." Princess Wang said with a smile, "They are certainly bosom friends, because only Zhong Ziqi could understand Bo Ya's music."

It then asked, "Why did Bo Ya smash his zither after Zhong Ziqi died?"

Wang Ji replied, "For Bo Ya, if his confidant dies, the person who understands him disappears, and then all his efforts become meaningless."

It didn't understand: "Why is it meaningless?"

Wang Ji had no answer, because she had no close friends. She could only smile helplessly and say, "I don't know either. Maybe I'll be able to answer your question when I have a close friend in the future."

It gave an "oh" and then fell silent.

After a long while, just when Princess Wang thought it had fallen asleep, it suddenly asked again, "What's the difference between a confidant, family, friendship, and love?"

Princess Wang was taken aback: "This..."

It asked itself and answered: "Perhaps true friends are superior to them."

The sound faded, echoing in the shadows, like the murmur of an ancient god.

"A true friend is the highest form of human affection."

-------------

Wang Ji is very happy today because she made a friend.

She is the daughter of a nobleman. Today, the royal family is holding a banquet and has invited many nobles, who are allowed to bring their families.

Princess Wang met him at a banquet. They strolled together in the royal gardens and chatted for a very long time.

“I can be friends with her,” Wang Ji said happily to it.

But it didn't think so, and poured cold water on the princess: "In my opinion, it should be that nobleman's intention to do this, and teach his daughter to do this. After all, you are a princess, and building a good relationship with you is also paving the way for their family."

Having listened to the princess talk about palace affairs for so long, it already knew all about these matters.

Princess Wang was somewhat displeased: "Maybe it's true?"

It scoffed: "You expect to become confidants with a fool who's tied down by family ties? Don't be ridiculous."

Princess Wang remained silent for a very long time. Perhaps she knew it too, but she was just too lonely. Even if the man approached her with an ulterior motive, it would be good if he could just talk to her.

So she said softly, "I understand what you're saying, but I still hope, maybe..."

But it still mercilessly shattered her illusions: "Stop dreaming. Even your own mother is using you as a pawn, hoping you can learn the royal secrets to help her gain a foothold. If even your own mother thinks this way, do you really expect a stranger to understand you?"

It shares the same essence as the princess, but their personalities are completely different. The princess is gentle and reasonable, while it doesn't understand emotions and even scorns family ties.

Princess Wang held it in her arms, her head bowed: "Then don't I only have you now?"

It shook off in disgust and jumped aside: "Can't you stop being so childish? Can't people live without emotions?"

Princess Wang remained silent for a long time.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, saying, "If a person has no feelings, is they still a person?"

-------------

That sentence touched it.

Late at night, while the princess was asleep, it was still flipping through books, hoping to find the answers within.

It saw in the book that the Way of Heaven created all things, and the combination of Yin and Yang gave birth to life. The greatest virtue of Heaven is life, and life is the greatest power of the Way of Heaven. If we were to talk about the origin of everything for the human race, we would have to start with the Way of Heaven.

And what about it? What is it?

It shouldn't be considered a life form, because heaven and earth have never accepted it. It only possesses a little spiritual energy that existed within the body of the princess when it was created. It cannot cultivate, has no age, and cannot grow. It can only survive by relying on its green color.

It could sense that the moment the green disappeared would be the moment of its death.

It was unwilling to die like this; the thought of becoming human resided in its heart at all times. It wanted to truly have life and truly become human.

"I can't be human because I've never had life, and... I don't understand emotions."

It leaned dejectedly in the shadows.

"I can try to learn various magical techniques, find those I can use, and then try to study life, but emotions..."

Life is the greatest taboo, but in its eyes, studying emotions is more difficult than studying life.

"If there must be feelings, then it must be my own feelings that are channeled into them..."

"Then I choose a confidant!"

No relatives, no friends, no love.

Since the beginning of creation, there was nothing. If it must exist, why is there no one among the noblest and longest-lasting human race?

It opened the book of stories again and looked at the story of Zhong Ziqi and Bo Ya.

-------------

Today marks the completion of the new sect base of the Linlang Sect. As members of the royal family, we must all go on a tour to offer our congratulations.

Princess Wang went out early in the morning and didn't return until late at night.

As soon as she got back, she complained to it about how boring the trip to comfort people was and how unreliable the members of the Linlang Sect seemed.

It was already familiar with the historical structure of the Chu Kingdom and understood what kind of existence the Linlang Sect was. To this, it simply sneered and commented: "Just a parasite."

Princess Wang sighed helplessly, "If things continue like this, I really don't know what to do with the country."

It was already almost as tall as the princess, and its body had completely taken on a human form. It sat opposite the princess, picked up its teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "It has nothing to do with you, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Princess Wang was displeased: "I can do a lot."

It asked, "For example?"

Princess Wang said, "For example, my understanding of forbidden techniques, my improvements to ingenious applications, and so on..."

It interrupted her: "But I'm the one doing all this now. What have you done besides wasting your days with your so-called friends?"

Wang Ji blushed: "At least I created you."

It sneered, "Then I really thank you."

At that time, the princess hadn't yet discerned the coldness hidden in its words. She simply treated it as her own child, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at it: "Hehe, you wouldn't be jealous that I have friends and not come to keep you company, would you?"

It didn't even bother to reply to that.

In its eyes, everyone around the princess was a fool, including those in the palace and those from the Linlang Sect. These people were not even worth investigating; they were not even qualified to become its confidants, let alone its subordinates.

It simply said to the princess, "I don't care about friends, I only need confidants."

Princess Wang smiled and said, "Okay, then I look forward to you finding it."

-------------

Princess Wang Ji is ill.

She said something wrong today and angered the King of Chu. The King of Chu made her reflect on her mistake in her room, and it was at this time that she fell ill.