A Jiu, seeing that he didn't blame her, relaxed a little. She sighed, "Don't be so polite, Master Flower. The Great Ming now stands alone overseas, trapped on this island. It's long lost its former glory. How can I still be considered a princess?"
She had been revisiting her old haunts, seeing that Yanjing City remained the same while she was alone, like a wandering ghost. Thinking of the chaotic politics in the Southern Ming, her worries deepened. She felt hopeless about restoring her nation and avenging her family, a shadow of sadness clouding her face.
Seeing her expression, Chen Jin Nan hastily knelt down and bowed, saying earnestly, "Your Highness, please don't belittle yourself. Don't lose your spirit. Though the Great Ming has lost its homeland, as long as we, the ruler and the subjects, are united in heart and mind, gather our strength, and have heroes like Master Flower to help us, we will surely rise again and drive these Tartars out, killing them all!"
This mission had suffered heavy casualties. The dog emperor had obviously learned about it beforehand and laid an ambush. Chen Jin Nan had come to test Flower Wu Que, but after seeing Ao Bai's head, he no longer had any doubts. He was determined to pull this young hero into Princess Jiu's camp. Seeing his princess feeling sorry for herself, reluctant to speak, he feared that if she continued, their secrets would be revealed. He couldn't help but interrupt her, hoping to use words to draw the young master in.
Although she was reluctant to involve herself in politics, having grown up in the palace, A Jiu was familiar with such conspiracies and schemes. She saw through Chen Jin Nan's intentions. Seeing that Flower Wu Que remained noncommittal, she sighed, "Uncle Chen, A Jiu appreciates your kindness. But given the current situation of the Great Ming, A Jiu truly doesn't want to involve anyone else. Please don't bring this up again!"
Chen Jin Nan's face shifted for a moment, and he was about to plead again, but A Jiu stopped him, "Uncle Chen, this time, the Tiandihui brothers suffered heavy casualties, their morale plummeted. You should take Ao Bai's head back and handle the matter. As for Master Flower, A Jiu will thank him personally!"
Seeing the princess's resolute expression, Chen Jin Nan didn't insist. He lowered his head, sighed, picked up the bag next to him, put Ao Bai's head inside, bowed to Flower Wu Que, and left.
"Uncle Chen has no ill intentions. He just wants to restore the Great Ming and reclaim our lost lands. He's struggling with being short-handed and cannot rely on the court. That's why he resorted to this method. It's A Jiu's incompetence, unable to help him. I've embarrassed Master Flower," A Jiu said apologetically, noticing that the handsome young man before her didn't seem like the usual rough and tumble characters Chen Jin Nan gathered. This method was a bit beneath him. To prevent any resentment from arising, she stood up and bowed slightly after Chen Jin Nan left, trying to remedy the situation.
Flower Wu Que, seeing her sincere words, shook his head, "Princess Jiu, you don't have to be so courteous. I'm not a petty person. This is just a small matter, no need to bring it up again."
He suddenly remembered that yesterday in the palace, he encountered the old monster who had mentioned protecting a princess. It was this beautiful woman with a worried expression. This beautiful princess seemed oblivious to her own value. He decided to make his point, feigning hesitation, "But I have a question. I don't know if it's appropriate to ask."
A Jiu, seeing that he didn't blame her, felt relieved, "Speak freely, Master Flower. Whatever A Jiu knows, I will tell you without hesitation." She was now ostracized by the Southern Ming court, and her sect, the Huashan Shadow Sect, had been secluded for years. Her former love, with his incredible martial arts skills, couldn't be seen because of the deep hatred born from the nation's destruction and family's ruin. Although Chen Jin Nan was loyal and planned for her, the Tiandihui was filled with mixed characters and depended heavily on Southern Ming funds. She couldn't rely on them either. She felt like a drifting weed, with no place to belong. How could she have any value to offer?
Flower Wu Que, seeing her self-pity and delicate beauty, felt some pity for her. He said softly, "I'm truly confused. Now that the world is in chaos, the Yuan Mongols are powerful, and every country is struggling to survive. How come you didn't take advantage of this opportunity, gather strength, and wait for the right time to return to the Central Plains? Why are you running around setting up the Tiandihui? And from what I've seen, Chen Jin Nan is not the sole voice in the Tiandihui. It seems..."
A Jiu understood his meaning and sighed, "Master Flower, you don't know. Since we retreated to Taiwan, the Qing stopped pursuing us. This Great Ming court has reverted to its old ways, vying for power and profit. They don't genuinely want to rise again. Uncle Chen refused to join them, returned to the Central Plains alone, and founded the Tiandihui. Over the years, those princes and ministers, seeing that the Tiandihui is gaining some momentum, have reached out to take advantage. That's why A Jiu doesn't want to involve Master Flower. It's just that, it's just that the restoration of the nation seems hopeless!"
In this timeline, when Yanjing City fell, A Jiu didn't see Chongzhen and was directly protected by the Sunflower Old Ancestor, escaping with her life. Therefore, she didn't lose her arm. Then, Chen Jin Nan followed her faithfully, constantly reminding her to restore her nation and avenge her family. But now, seeing her hopes crumble one by one, it was unbearable. For a young woman in her twenties, not falling apart was already a testament to her resilience!