The improved female villains regained their memories.

At this critical juncture, the key should have been for the Crown Prince to remain calm and avoid making mistakes, but in reality, the Crown Prince panicked.

At a young age, Shi Yuzun had already mastered the peak of the eighth-grade magic weapon, approaching the ninth-grade magic weapon, which could be considered a semi-ninth-grade magic weapon. Moreover, Shi Yuzun's prestige was growing stronger and stronger, and the entire court was full of his followers. Even the crown prince had to temporarily avoid his sharp edge.

There were also people named Shi Yuzun around the emperor, and it is said that, influenced by this, the emperor had already begun to consider changing the crown prince.

The Crown Prince had no choice but to act hastily, and thus sought cooperation with the increasingly prestigious Divine Palace, which was exactly what the system wanted.

Their original plan was to lure the Crown Prince into the scheme, but now that he has come to them, it saves them the trouble of making contact.

That evening, the system told Zhi Zi that everything was going smoothly and that if things went as expected, Shi Yu Zun would appear on the sixth or seventh day.

That was when her mission began.

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

Gardenia knew nothing about royal matters and had no interest in them. As a pawn in the game, she did whatever the system told her to do.

The system is constantly monitoring Shi Yuzun's movements; with it around, nothing Shi Yuzun does can escape its notice.

“Even if it’s to deal with the Crown Prince, Shi Yuzun will come here,” the system said.

Gardenia remained silent, organizing her new wishes for the day in the rear hall of the shrine.

The light sphere that the system embodied flew to Gardenia's side and suddenly asked, "Gardenia, do you know what love is?"

Gardenia looked at the ball of light, not understanding why it suddenly asked her this question.

"There are many kinds of love, but no matter what kind, they are all rejected by the Heavenly Dao," the system said. "I've been with you for so long, whether as a partner or a friend, I advise you: a mission is a mission, and you'd better not get caught up in it."

Gardenia was somewhat bewildered; she didn't understand why the system would say that.

Love was too abstract for her; she couldn't imagine something so abstract.

The system said, "Anyway, I've already advised you. But based on experience, villains are often trapped by human players, and many human players are also trapped by villains."

This wasn't the first time it had undertaken this kind of task. There were instructions from the Heavenly Dao side that this task was special, which was why it needed a system that had been running many times before.

"Feelings are very complicated things."

"No matter how rational or cold a person is, they will definitely have a sentimental side."

"Unless the body or soul is severed, every whole person will have emotions."

"Once you have it, you'll get caught up in it, and once you're caught up, you can't get out."

"Many people talk about liberation, but only they know that the moment they recall it is eternity."

Seeing Zhi Zi's bewildered expression, the system chuckled helplessly and said, "Anyway, it's a good thing for you not to get caught up in it. You'll understand later."

"You only meet someone like that once in your life, which is why regret and remorse are born."

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

In the following two days, the people who came to pay homage were mixed with Shi Yuzun's spies.

Gardenia sat there, watching the worshipping crowd. With the system around her, she knew which were genuine and which were testing the waters on behalf of their master.

A saintly woman who listens to the prayers of all beings and communicates with the divine?

The royal family clearly did not believe it.

The Crown Prince came for the influence of the Divine Palace among the people, while Shi Yuzun came to be wary of the Crown Prince. The two sides had different purposes and neither took the so-called wish seriously.

Gardenia suddenly felt a mix of irony and sadness. She realized that, apart from the general public who were unaware of the situation, no one took her seriously.

She may seem to influence many people and be worshipped by many, but she is no different from an empty clay sculpture.

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

Shi Yuzun did not make a personal appearance.

Spies came in waves, some mingling with the crowd, others hiding in the shadows.

The magical artifact emitted constant vibrations, and even in her sleep, Zhi Zi could feel the gaze coming from the darkness.

The system originates from a high latitude, which these people cannot detect, while others pretend not to know.

As for Zhi Zi, thanks to years of training, maintaining her persona is almost ingrained in her bones.

Those gentle, watery eyes and that graceful smile were seen by Shi Yuzun through the magical artifact.

"Gardenia." The system's voice echoed in my mind, lingering for a long time.

"The mission has begun."

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

On the sixth day, Shi Yuzun arrived.

He did not enter with the crowd to worship, but waited at the entrance with his people until all the worshippers had finished expressing their wishes before leading them inside.

Although Zhi Zi had seen him many times in the system's images before, this was the first time they had met face-to-face in reality.

He walked in step by step through the gate, his posture as upright as a pine tree, yet his steps carried a nonchalant languor, as if this long pilgrimage was nothing more than a casual stroll.

Her long, jet-black hair was casually tied up, with a few stray strands dancing wildly in the biting mountain wind. Her deep eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky, radiating an untamed light—an expression of disdain for everything in the world. Only when she looked in the direction of Gardenia would a hint of barely perceptible curiosity flash across her face.

Zhi Zi remained silent, and the white-robed man beside her stepped forward as planned. "My lord, today's prayers have concluded."

No one paid him any attention, and Shi Yuzun walked forward as if he hadn't heard them.

“My lord…” The man in white robes tried to step forward to stop him, but one of Shi Yuzun’s followers suddenly attacked, throwing out a magic weapon that immediately trapped him inside the spirit array.

"Protect the saintess!"

The people in white robes filed out and surrounded Shi Yuzun and his companions.

As planned, Zhi Zi waved her hand, her gentle, watery eyes looking at Shi Yu Zun.

"Please don't fight. It would be very difficult for me to fight here," she said, her gentle voice echoing throughout the hall. "My guest, if you also have something to say, I will listen."

"listen?"

Shi Yuzun pondered these two words, then, as if he had thought of something, he smiled disdainfully.

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

he's gone.

It's as if the purpose of coming here is just to take a look, and once that purpose is achieved, one can leave.

This was beyond everyone's expectations; according to the original plan, they were supposed to fight here.

The prepared lines were not used, so the system recalculated and summoned all the white-robed people to discuss the next step of the plan.

Zhi Zi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat fortunate. She had spent a long time organizing the wishes in the back hall, and the cultivators had fought without restraint, so she was really afraid that they would damage the back hall.

Just as she was about to rest that night, the system's voice suddenly sounded in her mind: "I didn't miscalculate. Shi Yuzun is preparing to bring people to kidnap you. You should stick to the original plan and not give yourself away."

"what?"

Gardenia was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, the wall next to her suddenly shattered, a figure rushed in, put a hood on her head, and carried her away without saying a word.

A cold wind raged, and she felt a heavy blow to her head, causing her to faint immediately.

"Wake up."

Someone called her, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the ground.

The fresh scent of soil and grass gradually brought her back to her senses. When she looked up, she saw the villain named Shi Yuzun riding a horse, looking at her with amusement.

"So, even the saintess who listens to the wishes of all living beings on behalf of Heaven has a pathetic side?" he said, his words full of sarcasm.

"You're the one for today..." she said, feigning fear, "What are you going to do?"

"Aren't you supposed to listen to wishes? I hope you can listen to my wishes."

"what?"

"Disappear for a period of time."

He casually waved his hand, and spiritual energy swept her up, landing her on his horse.

He laughed heartily, spurred his horse, and it galloped off.

Gardenia's face was deathly pale, and this time it wasn't an act; she was genuinely pale.

A moment of panic caused her to lose her composure, but muscle memory forced her to calm down.

Taking a few deep breaths, she gritted her teeth and said, "You kidnapped me, and my people will not let you go."

"Great, that's perfect. I won't let you off the hook either."

In the wind, the boy's voice was loud, a kind of unrestrained and unconventional voice unique to men of that age.

"Actually, I'm the king of a mountain stronghold. I came here specifically to kidnap you and make you my wife. To be honest, I've taken a liking to you."

"Shameless!"

The plan went smoothly as expected.

With a unique blend of shyness and a hint of resentment clenched in her teeth, Zhi Zi achieved perfection in both her posture and micro-expressions.

But inside, she was very calm and peaceful.

Aside from a brief moment of panic due to the horse's gallop, she has done her best now.

Yes, it was all a facade—her words, her expressions, her demeanor…

As a human chess piece, Zhi Zi watched the boy grow up and was the stranger who knew him best.

She knew his preferences, what he liked to eat, what he disliked, what he was curious about, and what he disliked.

So she wasn't surprised by this conversation.

She suddenly felt a sense of disgust—disgust for this world, disgust for herself.

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

Shi Yuzun tied her up in a small courtyard.

A few days later, he blindfolded her again and led her away for a long time.

Once they reached the capital, he locked her in a courtyard, arranged for someone to take care of her, and then disappeared for several days.

A few days later, he appeared with his injuries.

Zhi Zi was eating when the door slammed open, and Shi Yu Zun stood there with a dark expression.